Calver
Eureka Livestock LLC
Bakersfield, CA
$16.90/hr
SeasonalHousing
Outdoor Jobs in California
4 open listings · updated Oct 29, 2026
Median posted pay $18.55/hr (4 listings) · 57% include housing · Pay Report
Outdoor jobs in California include wildland fire crews, trail crews, national park lodge work, river guiding and pack stations, with CAL FIRE and the Forest Service both hiring firefighters. For wildland fire jobs in California, CAL FIRE’s seasonal Fire Fighter I job pays $4,296 to $5,432 a month in base salary for up to 9 months; applications open November 1 and hiring can start as early as January. The Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region lists permanent fire announcements open August 24 to September 22, 2026 and temporary ones October 30 to November 12, 2026. See wildland firefighter jobs in California.
More About Outdoor Jobs in California
Aramark is the primary concessioner in Yosemite National Park and offers employee housing that includes rustic cabins and canvas tents. The California Conservation Corps Backcountry Trails Program puts crews in remote wilderness from the last week of April to the last week of September, for ages 18 to 25 and military veterans up to 29. OARS runs a 9-day whitewater guide school on the American River that needs no prior rafting experience. The Inyo National Forest’s list of permitted outfitters includes Rock Creek Pack Station, McGee Creek Pack Station and Reds Meadow Pack Station. Browse packer jobs in California.
The licensing rule to know: anyone in the business of guiding or packing, or who for pay helps another person take fish or game, needs a California Department of Fish and Wildlife guide license. It costs $295.75 for residents and $679.75 for nonresidents for February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. If you work for a licensed guide, you can be registered as a guide employee for $64.89 instead. See guide jobs in California.
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Wrangler / Trail Guide
Rankin RanchCaliente, CA$16/hour + Overtime $24/hr (over 8 hrs per day or 40 hrs per week)SeasonalHousing -
Packer
Mammoth Lakes Pack OutfitMammoth Lakes, CASeasonalHousing -
Backcountry Trails Program Corpsmember – 2027 Season
California Conservation CorpsSacramento, CA$2,814/mo stipend (meals deducted at $500/mo)SeasonalHousing
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Recently Filled (10) These employers hire. Watch for their next listing.
Visitor Services Park Aide (Seasonal) – Benicia State Recreation Area
California Department of Parks and RecreationBenicia, CA$17.38 – $20.69 per hourSeasonalClosedBiological Science Technician (Fisheries) (Seasonal) – Pacific West
National Park ServiceCrescent City, CA$17.45 to $31.43 per hourSeasonalClosedMaintenance Worker (Trails) (Seasonal) – Pacific West Parks
National Park ServiceYosemite National Park, CA$21.18 to $39.00 per hourSeasonalClosedPacific West Conservation Crew Member – Northern California (Nov 2026 Start)
American Conservation Experience (ACE)Sacramento, CA$400/week living allowance + AmeriCorps Education AwardSeasonalClosedForestry Aide – Demonstration State Forests
CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection)CA$3,744.00 – $4,630.00 per MonthSeasonalClosedSenior Park Aide (Seasonal) – Sonoma Coast State Park
California Department of Parks and RecreationBodega Bay, CA$20.90 – $25.15 per hourSeasonalClosedSenior Maintenance Aide (Seasonal) – Monterey District Roads and Trails
California Department of Parks and RecreationCarmel, CA$21.38 – $25.74 per HourSeasonalClosedSupervisory Wildland Firefighter (Engine Captain) – Direct Hire Authority
U.S. Wildland Fire Service (Dept. of the Interior)Kings Canyon National Park, CA$67,958 – $88,342 per yearFull-timeClosedHot Creek Fish and Wildlife Technician
California Department of Fish and WildlifeMammoth Lakes, CA$3,999.00 – $5,196.00 per monthFull-timeClosedPark Aide (Seasonal) – Mount San Jacinto State Park
California Department of Parks and RecreationPalm Springs, CA$17.38 – $20.69 per HourSeasonalClosed
Questions About Outdoor Jobs in California
How many outdoor jobs in California are open right now?
7 listings are live on WildWork as of October 29, 2026. 6 state their pay and 4 include housing.
What do outdoor jobs in California pay?
The median posted rate is $18.55/hr across 4 current listings that state pay in that unit, with posted rates from $16/hr to $23.03/hr. These are advertised rates; tips, overtime and room and board are extra where the listing says so.
Do outdoor jobs in California come with housing?
57% of current listings say the employer provides housing, free or at a charge, and 43% include meals. Each listing shows whether housing is included and what it costs when the employer says.
How do I get hired as a CAL FIRE seasonal firefighter?
Apply for CAL FIRE’s Fire Fighter I classification. You must be 18 at the time of appointment and hold a valid Class A, B or C driver’s license. The first application period runs November 1 through November 30, with possible extra cutoffs during the season, and hiring may start as early as January. Applicants are placed in categories: returnees first, then those fully trained in the required courses, then partly trained, then everyone else. The job is temporary, with a maximum of 9 months.
When does the Forest Service hire wildland firefighters in California?
The Pacific Southwest Region lists two windows on USAJOBS. Permanent announcements are open August 24 through September 22, 2026, for engine, handcrew, hotshot, helitack, dispatch, prevention and other fire jobs on national forests throughout California. Temporary announcements open October 30 through November 12, 2026. The region asks you to apply for any position and duty station you would take, because jobs that open up during Fire Hire are backfilled when possible.
Do I need a license to be a hunting or fishing guide in California?
Yes, unless you are registered as the employee of a licensed guide. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife license for February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 costs $295.75 for residents and $679.75 for nonresidents. Employee registration costs $64.89 and applies only if your employer reports you for workers’ compensation and income tax withholding, and you are registered before you have contact with any client.
What does housing cost in Mono County and Yosemite?
HUD’s fiscal year 2026 fair market rent for Mono County is $1,528 a month for a one-bedroom and $1,675 for a two-bedroom. In Yosemite, Aramark provides employee housing such as rustic cabins and canvas tents; rates vary by position and housing type, and rooms are mostly small, with 1 to 2 roommates. Ask each employer what housing costs before you accept an offer.
Sources: CAL FIRE (Join CAL FIRE), Fire Fighter I classification; U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region, Fire Hire (2026 announcements); California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Guide License (fees valid Feb 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027); California Conservation Corps, Backcountry Trails Program; Aramark, Yosemite National Park Lodging and Activities, Employment; OARS, California Whitewater Guide School; U.S. Forest Service Inyo National Forest, Current list of permitted outfitters and guides; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rent, Mono County CA.