TL;DR
- Federal permanent fire jobs are hired once a year through “Fire Hire” on USAJOBS. The 2027 round opens August 24, 2026 and closes September 22, 2026. Temporary seasonal announcements follow in the fall and again in spring.
- Since March 2025 federal wildland firefighters are paid on a permanent special scale. In 2026 an entry-level GS-3 earns $21.14 per hour and a GS-5 earns $25.37 per hour in most of the country before overtime and hazard pay.
- Entry level needs no experience. You need S-130, S-190, L-180, ICS-100 and IS-700, plus the arduous pack test: 3 miles with a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes.
- State agencies and private contractors hire on their own calendars, often January through March, and pay $18 to $30 per hour.
Wildland firefighting is the largest seasonal outdoor employer in the country. The U.S. Forest Service, the Department of the Interior agencies, state forestry departments and private contractors put tens of thousands of people on the fireline every summer, and most of them started with no experience. The catch is timing. Federal hiring windows are short and open months before the season. This article gives the dates, the pay math, and the qualifications, with sources.
Who hires wildland firefighters?
| Employer | Crew types | Hiring window | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Engines, hand crews, hotshots, helitack, smokejumpers, dispatch, lookouts | Permanent: Fire Hire, Aug 24–Sep 22, 2026. Temporary: fall rounds (Aug–Oct) and spring rounds (Mar) | USAJOBS, keyword “27-FIRE” or “wildland firefighter” |
| BLM, National Park Service, BIA, Fish & Wildlife (Interior) | Engines, hand crews, hotshots, helitack, smokejumpers | Temporary announcements typically October; NPS apprentice round opened April 21, 2026 | USAJOBS, Direct Hire Authority |
| Washington DNR | Engines, 20-person initial attack hand crews | Opened Nov 14, 2025, closed Mar 1, 2026 | careers.wa.gov |
| Oregon Dept. of Forestry | Engines, hand crews | January–June, interviews by April | oregonjobs.org |
| Montana DNRC | Engines, helicopter crews | Applications open January, pack test in May | dnrc.mt.gov |
| Alaska Division of Forestry | Initial attack crews, Pioneer Peak hotshots, emergency firefighters | Crew positions posted December–February | governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska |
| Private contractors (Type 2 crews, engines) | 20-person contract crews, Type 6 engines | January–May, training in spring | Contractor websites; WildWork listings |
The Forest Service runs its Fire Hire event once a year for permanent positions from GW-3 through GW-10, covering engine, hotshot, hand crew, helitack, dispatch, fuels and smokejumper jobs (U.S. Forest Service Region 6, accessed Sep 13, 2026). For the 2027 fire year the announcement opens on USAJOBS August 24, 2026 and closes September 22, 2026. Certificates go to hiring managers October 27, selections run November 2 through December 11, and the first start dates are March 2027. Selections are made by phone and you have four hours to respond, so keep your phone on in November.
Temporary seasonal positions run on separate announcements. For the 2026 season the Forest Service posted them in waves: August 8 to 22, 2025 on the Santa Fe, through October 29, 2025 on the Deschutes, and a GW-5 round December 31, 2025 to January 14, 2026 with start dates June 28 to October 4, 2026 (U.S. Forest Service, USAJOBS, accessed Sep 13, 2026). Every one of these uses Direct Hire Authority, which means no rating and ranking and no veterans’ preference. All minimally qualified applicants go to the selecting official.
What is a red card and how do I get one?
A red card is the Incident Qualification Card that shows which fireline positions you are qualified for under the NWCG standard, PMS 310-1. The entry position is Firefighter Type 2, also called FFT2 or crewmember. It requires no experience. The required training is ICS-100, IS-700, L-180 Human Factors, S-130 Firefighter Training and S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (NWCG, accessed Sep 13, 2026). The annual refresher, RT-130, is not required in your first year.
Every FFT2 must pass the arduous Work Capacity Test: walk 3 miles on level ground carrying a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes or less (NWCG, accessed Sep 13, 2026). Agencies administer the test in spring, usually the first or second week of May for state crews. Federal announcements also require pre-employment and random drug testing, may require a medical exam under the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards and a driver’s license, and for permanent positions set an entry age under 37 unless you are a veteran (USAJOBS announcement 27-FIRE-P1R14610, accessed Sep 13, 2026).
You do not need the courses before you apply. Federal and state agencies train new hires during a one to two week academy at the start of the season. Washington DNR requires only IS-700 and ICS-100, both free online courses, before the pack test, and certifies FFT2 after its academy (Washington DNR, accessed Sep 13, 2026). Contractors run their own S-130/S-190 courses in spring.
How much do wildland firefighters make?
Federal pay changed permanently in 2025. The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, passed March 14 and signed March 15, 2025, created special base rates for federal wildland firefighters and a new Incident Response Premium Pay (U.S. Department of the Interior, Mar 15, 2025). The special rates add 36 percent over standard GS-3 base pay, 33 percent at GS-4 and 30 percent at GS-5 (5 U.S.C. 5332a). OPM publishes these as the “GW” pay tables.
| Grade (2026, step 1) | Base hourly | Rest of U.S. locality hourly | Annual base | Typical position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GW-3 | $18.06 | $21.14 | $37,683 | First-year firefighter |
| GW-4 | $19.82 | $23.20 | $41,367 | Firefighter, second season |
| GW-5 | $21.68 | $25.37 | $45,239 | Senior firefighter, FFT1 |
| GW-6 | $23.61 | $27.63 | $49,265 | Squad leader, engine operator |
| GW-7 | $25.61 | $29.98 | $53,451 | Assistant engine captain |
Source: OPM 2026 GW salary tables, accessed Sep 13, 2026. Locality rates vary; Los Angeles pays $24.64 at GW-3.
Base pay is only part of a fire season. Overtime pays 1.5 times the hourly rate for every hour over 8 in a day or 40 in a week (OPM, accessed Sep 13, 2026). Fireline work carries a 25 percent hazard pay differential (5 CFR Part 550, Appendix A). Incident Response Premium Pay adds 450 percent of your hourly rate for each qualifying day away from your duty station on an incident, capped at $9,000 per year (5 U.S.C. 5545c). A GW-4 working a 16-hour fireline shift earns roughly $185 base, $278 overtime, $93 hazard and $104 premium, or about $660 for the day, before taxes.
Season totals depend on how busy the year is. A solid season can mean 700 hours of overtime. Total earnings of $40,000 to $80,000 for a six-month season are commonly reported for federal crews, with hotshot and smokejumper crews at the high end (Wildland Fire 101, accessed Sep 13, 2026; not an official source). Before the 2025 reform, entry-level federal firefighters started at $15 an hour, which the Government Accountability Office identified as the main recruiting barrier (GAO-23-105517).
State and contractor pay: Washington DNR pays $3,642 to $4,074 per month for its summer firefighters; Oregon Department of Forestry entry-level suppression specialists earn $2,825 to $4,055 per month; Montana DNRC seasonal firefighters earn $20.05 to $20.74 per hour with 10 percent hazard pay, rising $1 per hour in July 2026 (Washington DNR, ODF South Cascade District, Montana DNRC, accessed Sep 13, 2026). One Oregon contractor pays FFT2 crew members $29.74 per hour base on federal contract crews with a $5.09 health and welfare add-on, and $44.61 for overtime, but only while dispatched (Miller Timber Services, accessed Sep 13, 2026).
When is fire season in each region?
Federal temporary positions for 2026 had start dates from June 28 to October 4. State seasons are similar: Washington DNR May through late September, Oregon mid-June through mid-October, Montana May through early September with extensions to October, Alaska six to eight months from spring (Washington DNR, ODF, Montana DNRC, State of Alaska, accessed Sep 13, 2026). Hotshot crews start earlier; Prineville Hotshots run April 1 through October 1.
The 2026 season was severe. Through August 31, 2026 the country had 8.2 million acres burned, 166 percent of the ten-year average, with the Northwest the most active region and the Northern Rockies and Great Basin also busy (NIFC Predictive Services outlook, Sep 1, 2026). Alaska’s season ended with rain in the last week of August. The Southwest peaks before the monsoon in May and June. Northern California typically sees eight significant fires in September and four in October, so California crews stay on late.
What are the crew types and which ones hire beginners?
| Crew | Size | Entry requirement | Beginner friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 hand crew | 18–20 | FFT2, arduous pack test | Yes. Only 20% need prior experience |
| Type 2 initial attack crew | 18–25 | FFT2; 60% of crew with a season | Yes, fewer slots |
| Engine crew | 3–10 | FFT2; training provided by state and federal engines | Yes |
| Interagency hotshot crew (Type 1) | 18–25 | FFT2 minimum, but 80% of crew must have a season; GW-5 slots need FFT1 and S-290 | Rarely in year one |
| Helitack | varies | FFT2 plus S-271 and a task book | Second season |
| Smokejumper | varies | At least one full season of suppression; 1.5-mile run under 10:47, 110-lb pack test (3 miles in 90 minutes at Redmond) | No |
Sources: NWCG PMS 200, NIFC Standards for Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations, USFS Prineville Hotshots and smokejumper qualification pages, BLM Great Basin Smokejumpers, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
How do I get on a hotshot crew?
Do a season on an engine or Type 2 crew first. Hotshot standards require 80 percent of the crew to have at least one prior season, and the Prineville Hotshots state that applicants with no prior wildland fire experience “are rarely hired” (U.S. Forest Service, accessed Sep 13, 2026). Hotshot crews recruit in early August for the following year; Prineville’s window was July 31 to August 14, 2026 with selections in early October and a crew start of April 5, 2027.
Fitness standards go beyond the pack test. Hotshot crews aim for a 1.5-mile run in 10:35 or better, 40 sit-ups and 25 push-ups in a minute each, and 4 to 7 chin-ups depending on body weight, and they train at least an hour a day, five days a week, when not assigned (NIFC SIHCO, accessed Sep 13, 2026). Contact the crew superintendent directly in summer, then apply on USAJOBS in the fall window.
Do wildland firefighters get housing?
Sometimes, and it depends on the station. Montana DNRC offers free seasonal housing at ten units around the state on a first-come basis. Oregon Department of Forestry’s South Cascade district has free summer housing at guard stations in Dorena, Holeman and Sweet Home. Washington DNR lists bunkhouse quarters at some Yakima-area stations and none at Chelan or Cle Elum (Montana DNRC, ODF, Washington DNR, accessed Sep 13, 2026). Federal housing is location-specific; the Forest Service refunded half of rent for GS-1 through GS-10 employees in agency housing during 2024 under an emergency authority (Government Executive, June 2024). Ask about housing in the interview, not after you accept.
How do I get hired with no experience?
- Start hiking with a 45-pound pack in the winter. Everything else can be taught; the pack test cannot be faked.
- Complete ICS-100 and IS-700 online now. They are free from FEMA and required by every agency.
- Build a USAJOBS profile in August and apply to every temporary announcement in your region in the fall and spring rounds. Apply to Fire Hire too; GW-3 permanent positions accept applicants with six months of general work experience.
- Apply to state agencies in January. Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska all take first-timers and train them.
- Apply to two or three private contractors by March as a backstop. Contract crews hire green firefighters and run their own S-130/S-190 in May.
- Get a clean driving record and be ready for a drug test. Federal and most contractor policies include marijuana regardless of state law.
Where are wildland fire jobs right now?
Contract crew and state agency openings are listed at wildwork.io/jobs/wildland-firefighter/, with the busiest states at Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Arizona. Federal positions are posted only on USAJOBS. Related guides: seasonal outdoor jobs with housing and best states for outdoor work.
Frequently asked questions
How fit do I need to be for wildland fire?
The gate is the arduous Work Capacity Test: 3 miles with a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes on level ground. NWCG defines arduous duty as above-average endurance, lifting more than 50 pounds and working in adverse conditions. Hotshot crews expect a 1.5-mile run near 10:30 and daily training on top of that.
Is wildland firefighting a year-round job?
Most positions are seasonal, roughly May through October. Permanent positions hired through Fire Hire include permanent seasonal appointments that work part of the year and full-time positions in fuels, prevention and supervision. Many seasonal firefighters work winter jobs in fishing, ranching or ski areas.
Do wildland firefighters get housing?
Some stations provide bunkhouses or free seasonal housing, including Montana DNRC and Oregon Department of Forestry guard stations. Others provide none. On assignment you sleep in fire camp. Confirm housing for your specific duty station before accepting.
What is the age limit for federal wildland fire jobs?
Permanent federal firefighter positions have a maximum entry age of 37 because of the firefighter retirement system, with waivers for veterans. Temporary seasonal positions require only that you are 18 or older.
Sources
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, “Fire Hire”, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- U.S. Forest Service, Santa Fe and Deschutes National Forest 2026 fire hiring releases, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- USAJOBS, announcements 853304900 (Wildland Firefighter GW-5), 881278700 (Wildland Firefighter GW-3/4 Direct Hire) and 865997100 (NPS apprentice), accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- U.S. Department of the Interior, “The Department of the Interior Announces Permanent Pay Increase for Wildland Firefighters to Bolster the Nation’s Wildfire Response”, Mar 15, 2025, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- 5 U.S.C. 5332a (special base rates), 5 U.S.C. 5545c (Incident Response Premium Pay), 5 U.S.C. 5545 and 5 CFR Part 550 Appendix A (hazard pay), law.cornell.edu, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 Wildland Firefighter (GW) salary tables, base and locality, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- OPM, “Overtime Pay, Title 5” fact sheet, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- NWCG, PMS 310-1 position qualification requirements for FFT2; PMS 307 Work Capacity Test guide, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- NWCG PMS 200 crew standards and NIFC Standards for Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- U.S. Forest Service, Prineville Interagency Hotshots, Smokejumper Qualifications and Redmond Smokejumpers pages; NIFC/BLM Great Basin Smokejumpers recruitment, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- NIFC Predictive Services, National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook, Sep 1, 2026, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Washington DNR 2026 Initial Attack Handcrew posting and seasonal firefighting page; Oregon Department of Forestry South Cascade District hiring page; Montana DNRC “Become a Wildland Firefighter”; Alaska Division of Forestry firefighter resources; all accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Miller Timber Services, “Entry-Level Wildland Firefighter (FFT2)”, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-23-105517, “Wildland Fire: Barriers to Recruitment and Retention of Federal Wildland Firefighters”, Nov 2022, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Government Executive, “Forest Service will partially refund federal firefighters’ rent in government-owned housing”, June 25, 2024. Wildland Fire 101, “Compensation” (independent site, used for the season-earnings range only), accessed Sep 13, 2026.