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Washington Wildland Firefighter Jobs

Since 2016, 1,617 wildland firefighter jobs have been posted across Washington — and 440 were entry-level (no experience needed). Here's where the crews are and how to pick one.

When they hire

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

Who hires

  • Forest Service (1,285)
  • Bureau of Land Management (114)
  • National Park Service (94)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (71)

Crew types posted

  • Smokejumpers (80)
  • Hotshot crew (76)
  • Helitack (74)
  • Dispatch (72)
  • Engine crew (55)

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 Washington

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.

Winthrop, Washington

453 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 15 entry-level spots a year (138 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

15
'18
17
'19
19
'20
16
'21
14
'22
19
'23
14
'24
12
'25
11
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Smokejumpers — parachute into remote fires that crews can't reach by road. At least one full fire season to apply; most have several.
  • 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.

Entiat, Washington

389 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 14 entry-level spots a year (126 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

18
'18
14
'19
18
'20
12
'21
10
'22
17
'23
15
'24
9
'25
13
'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.

Cle Elum, Washington

370 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 12 entry-level spots a year (113 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

16
'18
13
'19
17
'20
11
'21
10
'22
12
'23
11
'24
10
'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.

Naches, Washington

340 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 13 entry-level spots a year (117 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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
13
'19
18
'20
10
'21
9
'22
19
'23
14
'24
9
'25
11
'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.

Leavenworth, Washington

328 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 11 entry-level spots a year (103 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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
11
'19
16
'20
10
'21
10
'22
12
'23
12
'24
9
'25
13
'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.

Tonasket, Washington

319 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, November — 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
16
'19
18
'20
14
'21
12
'22
25
'23
16
'24
11
'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.

Walla Walla, Washington

317 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 15 entry-level spots a year (138 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

17
'18
22
'19
19
'20
16
'21
14
'22
22
'23
15
'24
5
'25
8
'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.

Kettle Falls, Washington

309 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 13 entry-level spots a year (121 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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
18
'19
18
'20
11
'21
10
'22
21
'23
14
'24
9
'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.

Chelan, Washington

309 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 10 entry-level spots a year (92 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

8
'18
10
'19
14
'20
8
'21
6
'22
14
'23
11
'24
10
'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.

Republic, Washington

298 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 12 entry-level spots a year (111 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

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

Pomeroy, Washington

295 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, November — 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
19
'20
17
'21
14
'22
22
'23
13
'24
6
'25
6
'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.

Randle, Washington

278 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 12 entry-level spots a year (112 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

10
'18
14
'19
15
'20
8
'21
18
'22
12
'23
14
'24
9
'25
12
'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.

Trout Lake, Washington

229 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 10 entry-level spots a year (95 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

8
'18
12
'19
15
'20
10
'21
12
'22
11
'23
12
'24
6
'25
8
'26

Amboy, Washington

228 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 9 entry-level spots a year (83 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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):

7
'18
11
'19
11
'20
9
'21
7
'22
10
'23
10
'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.

North Bend, Washington

224 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 8 entry-level spots a year (70 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, November — 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
9
'19
10
'20
10
'21
8
'22
11
'23
7
'24
6
'25
4
'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.

Washington wildland firefighter jobs open right now

No Washington jobs are open this minute — federal fire postings come in waves (mostly fall and winter). Browse all open jobs, or check back soon.

Wildland firefighter jobs in other states

California (4 open) Idaho (2 open) Arizona (2 open) Utah (2 open) South Dakota (1 open, 1 entry-level) Alaska (1 open) Texas (1 open) Oregon Montana Colorado Wyoming New Mexico 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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