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Fire Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Fire Battalion Chief

Patterson, CA · On-site

$128K - $156K/yr

Associate degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in fire science, fire administration, business or public administration, or a related field; Bachelors degree is ...

Fire Chief

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$222K - $297K/yr

... science, public administration, or a closely related field; Certification as a Chief Fire Officer by the California State Board of Fire Services; and knowledge of the principles, practices and ...

Fire Investigator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$83K - $124K/yr

Provides technical and scientific support to clients for subrogation and litigation purposes. * Conducts code compliance research including electrical, gas, fire, building and installation code ...

Provides technical and scientific support to clients for subrogation and litigation purposes. * Conducts code compliance research including electrical, gas, fire, building and installation code ...

Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Business or Public Administration, Political Science, or a closely related field or equivalent work experience is required. * Certified by the California State ...

Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Business or Public Administration, Political Science, or a closely related field or equivalent work experience is required. * Certified by the California State ...

Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Business or Public Administration, Political Science, or a closely related field or equivalent work experience is required. * Certified by the California State ...

Fire Captain

Livingston, CA · On-site

$71K - $105K/yr

Associate's degree or higher in fire science, fire administration, or a related field. * California State Fire Training Company Officer or Fire Officer certification. * State Fire Training Driver ...

Desirable Qualifications Associate's degree or higher in fire science, fire administration, or a related field. California State Fire Training Company Officer or Fire Officer certification. State ...

Showing results 41-60

Fire Science information

See California salary details

$26.2K

$61.8K

$98.7K

How much do fire science jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for fire science in California is $61,845.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47,900.00 and $71,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is fire science?

Fire science is the study of the behavior, spread, and control of fire. It combines principles from chemistry, physics, engineering, and environmental science to understand how fires start, how they can be prevented, and how they are extinguished. Professionals in fire science often work in firefighting, fire investigation, fire prevention, and safety education. The field also covers topics like fire safety codes, emergency management, and hazardous materials handling.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in fire science?

To thrive in Fire Science, you need a solid understanding of fire behavior, emergency response procedures, and safety regulations, typically supported by a degree in fire science or a related certification. Familiarity with fire suppression equipment, incident command systems, and hazardous materials protocols is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills in this field. These skills are important to ensure effective emergency response, minimize risks, and protect lives and property during fire-related incidents.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in fire science roles, and how can I prepare for them?

Professionals in fire science often encounter physically demanding environments, high-stress emergency situations, and the need to make rapid, informed decisions. Additionally, staying updated on evolving fire safety regulations and technology is crucial. To prepare, you should focus on building both your physical fitness and technical knowledge, develop strong communication skills for effective teamwork, and pursue ongoing education or certifications to remain current in the field.

Is a fire science degree worth it?

A fire science degree provides foundational knowledge in fire behavior, safety protocols, and emergency response, which can enhance job prospects in firefighting, fire inspection, and emergency management. Many roles also require certifications such as Firefighter I and II, and practical experience is highly valued. The degree can improve advancement opportunities and earning potential in the fire service industry.

What careers can you get with a fire science degree?

A fire science degree prepares individuals for careers such as firefighter, fire inspector, fire investigator, emergency management director, and fire safety officer. These roles often require knowledge of fire behavior, safety protocols, and may require certifications like EMT or fire service training, with work environments including fire departments, safety agencies, and emergency response teams.

What job categories do people searching Fire Science jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Fire Science jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Fire Science jobs?

Cities in California with the most Fire Science job openings:

Infographic showing various Fire Science job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 10% Internship, 85% Full Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $61,845 per year, or $29.7 per hour.

Wildland Firefighter (Fire Dispatcher)

Riverside, CA

Recruitment and Hiring | US Forest Service
Public Administration • 10K+ employees

$48K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago


USDA Forest Service rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 120 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

This position is located USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region, Region 5.
This may be a single agency dispatch office or interagency dispatch center located in a fire management organization.
The area involved may encompass federal, state, tribal and private lands within the dispatch center's area of influence.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact - Brian Grabowski - brian.grabowski@usda.govQualifications:In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Basic Requirement:
For the GW-04 level: Applicants must have six months of general experience (any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation).
Examples of General Experience includes: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding/tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities and/or worked in a greenhouse, nursery or landscaping e.g., planting, moving, watering, and tending plants and/or animal caretaker in a laboratory, zoo or pet store and/or volunteer work at a park, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc.
AND-
Six months of specialized experience that is directly related to the work of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisted in filing and retrieving documents and/or Assisted in receiving and processing requests for equipment, personnel, and supplies in conjunction with emergency incidents.
-OR-
Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 3 semester hours in mathematics is creditable).
-OR-
An appropriate combination of experience and education above high school as described above. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university and include courses that are related to the occupation of the position
For the GW-05 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-4 grade level.
Examples of specialized experience include:
Serving as a dispatcher and/or radio operator performing the full range of standardized support duties commonly found in the work area, such as receiving, filling, and tracking resource requests for fire and other emergency incidents and/or Maintains resource status and tracking systems and operates telecommunications systems and/or Serving as a dispatcher and/or radio operator for fire and other emergency incidents and/or Processes weather information and/or Inputs data into a number of fire-related computer applications.
OR-
A bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable)
-OR-
Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is clearly in an established firefighting field. Prior firefighting experience, as gained through rigorous wildland firefighting or equivalent experience outside the federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System. Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.Education:See Qualifications Section for educational requirements.Employment Type: OTHER

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