Careers and Jobs
Employment with the U.S. Forest Service
Since 1905, US Forest Service employees have been operating under the philosophy initiated by the first Chief of the Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, who believed in "the greatest good for the greatest number in the long run." Forest Service careers provide exciting and challenging opportunities to be involved in the management and protection of national forest lands.
All current Forest Service job vacancies are posted on USAJOBS. The web-based applications of USAJOBS provide an opportunity for job candidates to create a profile, search for jobs, sign-up for vacancy announcements, apply for jobs, and check the status of jobs for which they have applied.
Find a Job
How Do I Apply?
Apply for Permanent Employment:
- All permanent jobs are advertised through the usajobs website. You can search the current job vacancy announcements by agency, location, salary range, or by "series" (a system that identifies the type of work). Some positions are only open to current Federal Employees; only the jobs open to everyone will be shown in the search results.
What can you do in advance to prepare?
- Get familiar with USAJOBS by reviewing the website.
- Create an account on USAJOBS website.
- Use the USAJOBS tool to create a profile and resume.
- Post all relevant documents to yourUSAJOB account, i.e. resume, current transcripts, letters of recommendations, and veterans preference documentation.
- Sign-up for e-mail notifications for Forest Service job postings using the “save search” function in your USAJobs profile.
Our Washington Office site includes additional information on How to Apply, Salary & Benefits, Student Programs, as well as Volunteering.
You can also view current and upcoming Forest Service job opportunities - across the nation - online at: https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com/Outreach.
What do I need to know about Fire and Aviation Employment?
- Most fire positions are temporary seasonal positions advertised in usajobs.gov. Review some basic information about fire positions.
Additional Information
- Veteran information may be found at Office of Personnel Management Feds Hire Vets website.
- Review information regarding people with disabilities at Office of Personnel Management.
- View the requirements and conditions of Employment Law Enforcement Officer and Criminal Investigator positions.
- Find tips and useful information on obtaining temporary, seasonal employment.
What types of Volunteer opportunities are offered?
- Volunteers perform a variety of activities from forest conservation to trail restoration. Please reach out to your nearest local Forest Service office for more information.
Career Opportunities
The Forest Service has a wide breadth of career fields, appealing to both outdoor and indoor enthusiasts alike. Below are a sample of the many career areas available with the Forest Service:
- Fire Management
- Engineering
- Land Surveying
- Recreation
- Visitor Information
- Heritage Resources
- Natural Resources
- Archaeology
- Wildlife Biology
- Hydrology
- Timber
- Rangeland Management
- Geographic Information Science
- Human Resources
- Administrative Support
- Budgeting
- Contracting
- Law Enforcement
- Information Technology
- Public Affairs
- Partnerships