Wildland Fire Career Opportunities
Real Jobs. Real Impact.
Challenge yourself to new limits, join the Forest Service men and women who serve and protect millions of acres of our national forests, communities, and our natural resources.
Fire Job Announcements
Wildland Firefighters
The Forest Service is hiring permanent employees nationwide to prepare for catastrophic wildfire, implement fire prevention and active forest management strategies, and respond effectively to wildfire emergencies to safeguard lives, property, and natural resources.
Details About the Openings
Apply April 14th through April 24th, 2025. Positions available include permanent Wage Grade (WG), Wage Leader (WG), and General Schedule (GS) 3-13, aviation officers, dispatchers, equipment operators, fire engine operators, fire management officers, fire planners, fire prevention specialists, forestry aids and technicians, handcrew members, helitack crew members, hotshot crew members, pilots, prescribed fire and fuels specialists, smokejumpers, and more.
For a full list of fire opportunities, visit USAJOBS. Position salary, location, and start date will vary.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen or national who is at least 18 years of age. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill the available wildland firefighter positions and veterans' preference does not apply to these vacancies.
A Direct Hire Authority (DHA) is an appointing (hiring) authority that the office of Personnel Management (OPM) can give to Federal agencies for filling vacancies when a critical hiring need or sever shortage of candidates exists. DHA speeds the hiring process along by removing competitive rating and ranking, veterans' preference, and "rule of three" procedures.
As an applicant, you may be subject to drug testing as part of the hiring process and must receive a negative drug test prior to reporting for duty. In addition, these positions are subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
Selective Service Registration is the law. As a Federal agency, the Forest Service must make sure any candidate required by law is either registered for Selective Service or has a qualifying exemption. If you are unsure if you are required to register, the Selective Service System offers guidance on who needs to register.
Most positions may require you to take a Physical Fitness Test in order to determine if you are physically capable of completing the duties outlined in your position.
Job requirements vary based on position. Make sure to review the qualifications in the job announcement for each position you apply to.
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
Annual leave based on years of service - Starting with 4 hours per pay period
Sick leave, 4 hours per pay period
11 paid holidays per year
Overtime Pay
Hazard Pay
Paths to promotion
Paid Training
Financial literacy courses
Legal resources
Mental health assistance
Family counseling
and more!
How to Apply
Visit USAJOBS.gov.
Upload a resume or create a resume.
Search for jobs in USAJOBS.
Review the job announcement.
Apply anytime between April 14th through April 25th.
More Information
Visit the Careers in Wildland Fire page for a full list of benefits, information on eligibility requirements, and to find out which job is right for you. Wildland firefighting vacancies are open year-round.
Further opportunities to discover Forest Service vacancies
Positions Available Nationwide
Visit your local Forest Service website for more information including location information and application dates.
Questions?
For questions about career opportunities and applications call 1-877-372-7248, select Option 2 and follow the prompts. We're open from 7 AM to 5 PM (Mountain Time), Monday through Friday and closed on all Federal Holidays.
The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer