Seasonal Wildland Firefighter – 2027 Season (applications open November)
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Olympia, WA
Seasonal
Outdoor Jobs in Washington
6 open listings · updated Sep 13, 2026
17% include housing · Pay report
Washington posts fishing guide, wildland fire, trail and lodge jobs. Fishing guides work steelhead and salmon rivers on the Olympic Peninsula, the Skagit, the Cowlitz and the Columbia, and saltwater charters out of Westport, Neah Bay and Sekiu. The Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Forest Service and private contractors hire wildland firefighters for a June to October season on the east side. Washington Trails Association, Northwest Youth Corps and the Forest Service run trail crews in the Cascades and Olympics. Ranches in the Okanogan, Yakima and Palouse hire hands.
More About Outdoor Jobs in Washington
Washington licenses fishing guides through the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and saltwater charter captains need a USCG license. Housing is uncommon in Washington listings outside ranches and remote lodges.
Washington guiding runs on a winter and spring calendar that fills the gap between summer seasons elsewhere. Steelhead guides on the Hoh, Sol Duc, Bogachiel and Skagit work November through April, then move to Alaska or Montana for the summer. Trail crews, fire crews and Okanogan ranches fill the summer. That combination makes Washington a practical base for a year-round outdoor career, provided you can cover rent between seasons.
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Washington Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Member (Oct 2026 term)
Washington Conservation Corps (WA Dept. of Ecology)Olympia, WAFull-time -
Multi-Day Raft Guide (Owyhee and Main Salmon)
Wet Planet WhitewaterWhite Salmon, WASeasonal -
Urban and Community Forestry Crew Member – Tacoma (Fall 2026)
Northwest Youth CorpsTacoma, WASeasonal -
Wildland Firefighter (GW-6) – Olympic Peninsula & Randle
U.S. Wildland Fire Service (Dept. of the Interior)Port Angeles, WAFull-time -
Ranch Hand – Cattle Operation
Private cattle ranch near Loomis, WALoomis, WAFull-timeHousing
Questions About Outdoor Jobs in Washington
How many outdoor jobs in Washington are open right now?
6 listings are live on WildWork as of September 13, 2026. 4 state their pay and 1 include housing.
Do outdoor jobs in Washington come with housing?
17% of current listings say the employer provides housing, free or at a charge, and 0% include meals. Each listing shows whether housing is included and what it costs when the employer says.
How do I get a Washington fishing guide license?
Apply to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for a Food Fish or Game Fish Guide license. Guides operating a motorized boat with clients also need a USCG OUPV license. The WDFW license costs a few hundred dollars per year.
When is fire season in Washington?
June through October, with most large fires in July, August and September in the Okanogan, Methow, Wenatchee and Yakima areas. DNR and the Forest Service hire from January through April.
Are there trail crew jobs in Washington?
Yes. Washington Trails Association, Northwest Youth Corps, Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Forest Service run paid and stipended crews from May through September.
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