Wildland Firefighter Hiring

Challenge yourself to new limits, join the Forest Service men and women who serve and protect millions of acres with our national forests, communities, and our natural resources

Fire Job Announcements

Wildland Firefighters

Our firefighters are involved with wildland fire suppression, management, control, and perform this work on an engine, as a member of a helitak crew or on a handcrew.

Details About the Openings

Apply August 23rd through September 24th, 2024. Positions are available in various locations nationwide. Positions will be open to public using a Direct Hire Authority.

Check out our USAJOBS Job Announcement saved searches, categorized by region. You can narrow your search by entering your city in the location search bar. You can also use the filters to narrow your search by grade (GS Pay Scale) or salary.

USAJOBS Job Announcements

Region 1 - Northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota
Region 2 - Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota
Region 3 - Arizona & New Mexico
Region 4 - Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming
Region 5 - California
Region 6 - Oregon & Washington
Region 8 - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Region 9 - Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Vermont
R10 - Alaska

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.

What does Direct Hire Authority mean?

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.

Drug Testing

As an applicant for a permanent position, 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

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.

Physical Fitness Test

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

Job requirements vary based on position. Make sure to review each job announcement requirements for each job you apply to.

Benefits

Health Care

Medical
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance

Paid Leave

Annual leave based on years of service - Starting with 104 hours (13 days) per year
Sick leave, 104 hours (13 days) per year
11 paid holidays per year

Competitive Pay

Base Pay $35,499 – $45,982 per year
Overtime Pay
Hazard Pay
Paths to promotion
Paid Training

Retirement

Three-pronged retirement plan

Firefighter Retirement (pension)
Thrift Savings Plan (investment plan)
Social Security

Additional Benefits

Wellness benefits
Financial literacy courses
Legal resources
Mental health assistance
Family counseling
and more!

How to Apply

Visit USAJOBS.gov.
Create a profile.
Upload a resume or create a resume.
Search for jobs in USAJOBS.
Review the job announcement.
Apply anytime between August 23rd and September 24th.

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 specific to this event, email us at sm.fs.fire_hire@usda.gov.

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