... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Hawthorne, CA · On-site
$43.18/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Quick apply
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Hawthorne, CA · On-site
$43.18/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Lancaster, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Lancaster, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Sacramento, CA · On-site
$37.96/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Sacramento, CA · On-site
$37.96/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
San Bernardino, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
San Bernardino, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Santa Maria, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Santa Maria, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Atwater, CA · On-site
$35.97/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Atwater, CA · On-site
$35.97/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
San Luis Obispo, CA · On-site
$42.51/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
San Luis Obispo, CA · On-site
$42.51/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Riverside, CA · On-site
$43.47/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Quick apply
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Riverside, CA · On-site
$43.47/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Redding, CA · On-site
$34.34/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Redding, CA · On-site
$34.34/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Mather, CA · On-site
$37.96/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Mather, CA · On-site
$37.96/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Victorville, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Victorville, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Oxnard, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Oxnard, CA · On-site
$39.92/hr
... pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services. 7. Performs lower grade level ...
Nurse
San Jose, CA · On-site
$105K - $128K/yr
Fire Department Opening Date: 07/13/2026 Closing Date: Continuous Our diverse and inclusive ... Paramedicine Pilot Program, including patient outreach, care coordination, health education ...
Nurse
San Jose, CA · On-site
$105K - $128K/yr
Fire Department Opening Date: 07/13/2026 Closing Date: Continuous Our diverse and inclusive ... Paramedicine Pilot Program, including patient outreach, care coordination, health education ...
Autonomy Software Engineer
Alameda, CA · On-site
$150 - $230/hr
You will collaborate directly with firefighters, pilots, and your engineering colleagues to ... Once dispatched, Rain's Wildfire Mission Autonomy System perceives the fire, shares intelligence ...
Autonomy Software Engineer
Alameda, CA · On-site
$150 - $230/hr
You will collaborate directly with firefighters, pilots, and your engineering colleagues to ... Once dispatched, Rain's Wildfire Mission Autonomy System perceives the fire, shares intelligence ...
Product Manager-Hardware
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$180 - $240/hr
Fire agencies need faster, more reliable ways to detect, verify, and pinpoint new ignitions so they ... Define hardware acceptance criteria, test coverage requirements, and field pilot success metrics to ...
Product Manager-Hardware
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$180 - $240/hr
Fire agencies need faster, more reliable ways to detect, verify, and pinpoint new ignitions so they ... Define hardware acceptance criteria, test coverage requirements, and field pilot success metrics to ...
Nurse
San Jose, CA · On-site
$105K - $128K/yr
About the Department The San Jose Fire Department's (SJFD) mission is to serve the community by ... Paramedicine Pilot Program, including patient outreach, care coordination, health education ...
Nurse
San Jose, CA · On-site
$105K - $128K/yr
About the Department The San Jose Fire Department's (SJFD) mission is to serve the community by ... Paramedicine Pilot Program, including patient outreach, care coordination, health education ...
Senior Manager, Backend (Platform Interoperability)
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$200 - $240/hr
Our first application is transforming fire response: combining advanced fluid dynamics, IoT-enabled ... pilot).You will help define HEN's interoperability architecture across CAD, GIS, identity ...
New
Senior Manager, Backend (Platform Interoperability)
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$200 - $240/hr
Our first application is transforming fire response: combining advanced fluid dynamics, IoT-enabled ... pilot).You will help define HEN's interoperability architecture across CAD, GIS, identity ...
New
Outside Sales Rep - Powerlift Hydraulic Doors
Newark, CA · On-site
$65K - $80K/yr
... fire stations, commercial shops, and luxury residential properties.This is a hunter role. Today ... pilots, hangar developers) Background in construction, industrial equipment, or commercial door ...
Quick apply
Outside Sales Rep - Powerlift Hydraulic Doors
Newark, CA · On-site
$65K - $80K/yr
... fire stations, commercial shops, and luxury residential properties.This is a hunter role. Today ... pilots, hangar developers) Background in construction, industrial equipment, or commercial door ...
Fire Pilot information
See California salary details
$48.9K - $62.4K
10% of jobs
$62.4K - $76K
7% of jobs
$76K - $89.6K
3% of jobs
$99.8K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$89.6K - $103.2K
6% of jobs
$103.2K - $116.8K
7% of jobs
$116.8K - $130.4K
5% of jobs
The median wage is $138.9K / yr.
$130.4K - $144K
17% of jobs
$151.7K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$144K - $157.6K
33% of jobs
$157.6K - $171.2K
5% of jobs
$171.2K - $184.8K
3% of jobs
$184.8K - $198.4K
2% of jobs
$48.9K
$129.2K
$198.4K
How much do fire pilot jobs pay per year?
What is a fire pilot?
What does a fire pilot do?
As a fire pilot or air tanker pilot, you respond to wildfires by providing water drops, fire retardant, and other fire suppression materials from your aircraft. In most cases, you spend the bulk of your day standing by and waiting to respond to an alert that indicates the probability of wildfire. Depending on probability, you may need to stay on-site or remain within a specified distance of the base. When the call comes, your responsibilities include completing the pre-flight checklist, loading the details in your GPS, and then completing the flight according to the directions received.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a fire pilot, and why are they important?
What are some common challenges faced by fire pilots during wildfire suppression missions?
What is the difference between Fire Pilot vs Firefighter?
| Aspect | Fire Pilot | Firefighter |
|---|---|---|
| Required Certifications | Commercial Pilot License, Firefighting training | Firefighter certification, EMT/paramedic license |
| Work Environment | Aircraft, firefighting helicopters or planes | Fire stations, emergency scenes, buildings |
| Employer & Industry Usage | Fire departments, aerial firefighting companies | Municipal fire departments, rescue services |
Fire Pilots operate aircraft to combat wildfires from the air, requiring pilot licenses and specialized firefighting training. Firefighters work on the ground, handling rescue and suppression tasks, and need firefighting certifications. Both roles are vital in firefighting but differ significantly in work environment and required credentials.
How much do fire pilots get paid?
Is it hard to become a fire pilot?
What are the most commonly searched types of Fire Pilot jobs in California?
The most popular types of Fire Pilot jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Fire Pilot jobs in California?
For Fire Pilot jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Fire Pilot jobs in California look for?
The top searched job categories for Fire Pilot jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Fire Pilot jobs?
Cities in California with the most Fire Pilot job openings:

Air Traffic Control Specialist
San Carlos, CA • On-site
Full-time
Re-posted 23 days ago
Job description
Summary
Responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic control duties in a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Air Traffic Control Tower.
Dimensions of Position
Works under the general supervision of the Tower Manager who relies on the incumbent to perform established duties independently. On new or revised procedures, the manager gives detailed instructions and observes, and checks work during or immediately after completion according to complexity of the task or until satisfied the incumbent can perform it independently.
Accountability
1. Makes decisions involving:
- The order of departures that will assure all aircraft equitable treatment and will assure that departing IFR flights operate at the fix, altitude, and the time designated by the center or approach control clearances.
- The times and direction of takeoff and any turns necessary for departure.
- Whether inbound aircraft are to land immediately or circle and whether distances are lengthened to control the arrival of an aircraft at a given point.
- The active runway and possible simultaneous use of other runways.
- The time and methods by which arrivals and departures can be interspersed with the least delay to traffic.
- When landing and departing aircraft are cleared to use the runways to assure standard separation between aircraft on the runways.
- The sequence of arriving traffic, before it enters the traffic pattern, to assure a safe, orderly flow of aircraft on final approach to the landing runway.
- That IFR separation standards are applied, as delegated by approach control of the center, in limited areas around the airport to provide initial separation between
IFR arrivals and IFR departures and between successive IFR departures.
- The sequence of VFR and IFR traffic, using radar equipment as an aid and, when delegated, separating IFR traffic.
- When VFR flights through the airport traffic area can be authorized.
2. Determines the usability of communications frequencies available to him/her as other navigational aids used to control air traffic. Monitors navigational aids and monitors control panels, including BRITE display to determine acceptability of its alignment and display presentation. Instructs pilots to change radio frequencies/radar beacon codes.
3. When appropriate, coordinates with the other controllers on movements of both arrival and departure aircraft.
4. When traffic conditions warrant, controllers in non-approach terminals are responsible for:
- Preplanning traffic sequencing and separation over an area which may reach out to a radius of 5 miles or more.
- Preplanning and setting up check points required to ensure the maintenance of necessary traffic separation.
- Maintaining a continuous mental picture and evaluation of a constantly changing traffic complex frequency dispersed over an equivalent geographic area.
- Maintaining continuous radio watch with aircraft which have previously contacted the facility.
- Accepting responsibility to handle IFR traffic at his/her airport.
5. Studies weather bureau reports and forecasts, obtains LAWRS/SAWRS weather certification, observes weather from the tower and records pilot reports to determine the effect of present and anticipated weather on traffic; furnishes aircraft with information such as field conditions, altimeter settings, weather conditions, operating status of navigational aids, and observed malfunctioning of aircraft, forwards to the weather bureau and the appropriate center, pilot weather reports and reports based upon personal observation of weather conditions; operates light guns, runway lights, field lighting, jet barriers etc.
6. Orients pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services.
7. Performs lower grade level duties as necessary to meet operational requirements and for proficiency maintenance.
8. Provides OJT training to others.
Requirements
Individual must have a CTO Certificate and a current Class II Medical Certificate. Position is subject to drug and/or alcohol testing per the DOT/FAA requirements (pre-employment, random, reasonable cause/suspicion, post-accident). Individual must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating or have held an FAA Credential with a tower rating, for a minimum of six months in an Air Traffic Control Tower.
Pay: $42.74 Per Hour
HW Rate: $4.93