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South Dakota Wildland Firefighter Jobs

Since 2016, 1,089 wildland firefighter jobs have been posted across South Dakota — and 440 were entry-level (no experience needed). Here's where the crews are and how to pick one.

1 job open in South Dakota right now (1 entry-level) →

When they hire

Most South Dakota jobs get posted in August, September, October. Federal fire hiring runs in the fall and winter for the next summer — so apply early, months before fire season.

Who hires

  • Forest Service (753)
  • Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (187)
  • Bureau of Land Management (56)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (43)

Crew types posted

  • Hotshot crew (76)
  • Fuels / Rx fire (70)
  • Helitack (58)
  • Dispatch (55)
  • Engine crew (39)

The types of crews — what they do & how big

Typical crew sizes and duties (general fire-world norms, not specific to one posting).

Hotshot crew · 20-person crew

Hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand.

Not entry-level Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Smokejumpers · elite; a few bases

Parachute into remote fires that crews can't reach by road.

Not entry-level At least one full fire season to apply; most have several.

Helitack · small modules

Get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack.

Not entry-level Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Engine crew · 3–10 per engine

Drive fire engines to the fire, pump water, and run hose lays.

✅ Entry-level No experience needed — a classic first job.

Hand crew · ~18–20 per crew

Dig fireline by hand with tools.

✅ Entry-level No experience needed — the classic first job.

Fuels / Rx fire · varies

Thin brush and run planned (prescribed) burns to cut wildfire risk before it starts.

✅ Entry-level Entry-level seasonal roles are common.

Dispatch · support role

Coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line.

Not entry-level A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.

Where the crews are in South Dakota

The towns that hire most. "Entry-level per year" is the typical number of no-experience roles posted in a normal season — your best read on how many spots there are and how many other rookies you'd be with.

↓ Skip to the 1 job open now in South Dakota

Custer, South Dakota

409 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 19 entry-level spots a year (175 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

14
'18
25
'19
25
'20
15
'21
19
'22
26
'23
16
'24
15
'25
16
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.
  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Rapid City, South Dakota

311 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 14 entry-level spots a year (128 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

13
'18
17
'19
14
'20
15
'21
14
'22
16
'23
11
'24
13
'25
13
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Dispatch — coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line. A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.
  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Spearfish, South Dakota

289 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 15 entry-level spots a year (131 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

12
'18
19
'19
18
'20
10
'21
14
'22
17
'23
10
'24
16
'25
15
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Camp Crook, South Dakota

164 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 9 entry-level spots a year (82 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

9
'18
12
'19
11
'20
5
'21
9
'22
9
'23
8
'24
7
'25
9
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Hot Springs, South Dakota

145 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 9 entry-level spots a year (80 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

6
'18
12
'19
8
'20
8
'21
8
'22
11
'23
10
'24
9
'25
8
'26

Hill City, South Dakota

137 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 7 entry-level spots a year (63 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

5
'18
8
'19
7
'20
5
'21
6
'22
9
'23
5
'24
8
'25
10
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Wall, South Dakota

109 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 7 entry-level spots a year (60 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

4
'18
9
'19
6
'20
5
'21
6
'22
8
'23
6
'24
10
'25
6
'26

Nemo, South Dakota

102 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 6 entry-level spots a year (56 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

2
'18
4
'19
3
'20
4
'21
10
'22
7
'23
7
'24
10
'25
7
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Fort Pierre, South Dakota

100 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 6 entry-level spots a year (51 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

2
'18
9
'19
5
'20
5
'21
6
'22
7
'23
5
'24
7
'25
5
'26

Pine Ridge, South Dakota

99 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 4 entry-level spots a year (33 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

3
'18
1
'19
2
'20
2
'21
6
'22
0
'23
6
'24
9
'25
2
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Dispatch — coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line. A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.

Rosebud, South Dakota

51 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 2 entry-level spots a year (15 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

3
'18
0
'19
0
'20
0
'21
0
'22
2
'23
3
'24
1
'25
3
'26

Lemmon, South Dakota

40 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (10 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

1
'18
6
'19
0
'20
0
'21
0
'22
0
'23
2
'24
0
'25
1
'26

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

24 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 2 entry-level spots a year (19 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

2
'18
2
'19
3
'20
3
'21
1
'22
2
'23
2
'24
2
'25
1
'26

Columbia, South Dakota

21 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 1 entry-level spot a year (10 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

1
'18
1
'19
1
'20
2
'21
2
'22
0
'23
1
'24
1
'25
1
'26

Eagle Butte, South Dakota

21 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 2 entry-level spots a year (8 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, October — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
0
'19
0
'20
0
'21
2
'22
2
'23
2
'24
1
'25
1
'26

Bars count entry-level postings by fire season — the summer you'd work. Federal fire jobs are posted the fall and winter before (peak Aug–Oct), so each season's bar includes everything hired for that summer, not the calendar date it was posted. The "per year" figure averages complete seasons 2018–2026. Counts come from federal USAJOBS announcements; one regional announcement can list many towns, so these show how often a town appears — a strong signal of where the work is, not an exact headcount.

South Dakota wildland firefighter jobs open right now

1 open posting in South Dakota, live from USAJOBS.

Wildland Firefighter - Engine

Wagner, South Dakota · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

🌱 Entry level · no experience $23.20–$23.20/hr GW-4 Apply by Jun 9

💰 ~$36K–$77K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland firefighter jobs in other states

California (4 open) Idaho (2 open) Arizona (2 open) Utah (2 open) Alaska (1 open) Texas (1 open) Oregon Montana Colorado Wyoming New Mexico Washington Nevada Minnesota Florida Virginia Michigan Tennessee North Carolina Mississippi Oklahoma Georgia Illinois Arkansas Missouri South Carolina Kentucky Wisconsin North Dakota Louisiana West Virginia Alabama Nebraska Pennsylvania Indiana New Hampshire Ohio Vermont Kansas

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