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How much do helitack crew jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for helitack crew in the United States is $21.28, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.83 and $24.76 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by helitack crew members during wildfire response operations?

Helitack crew members often face challenges such as rapidly changing fire conditions, working in remote and rugged terrain, and coordinating closely with air and ground teams under stressful circumstances. The job requires quick decision-making, physical endurance, and adaptability, as plans may change at a moment’s notice due to weather or fire behavior. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as crews must work safely and efficiently alongside pilots, ground firefighters, and incident command staff.

What are helitack crews?

Helitack crews are specialized teams of wildland firefighters who are deployed to fight fires using helicopters. Their primary role is to respond quickly to wildfires in remote or hard-to-reach areas by being transported via helicopter, often rappelling down or landing near the fire. Once on the ground, helitack crews suppress fires by constructing fire lines, clearing vegetation, and sometimes coordinating aerial water drops. They are highly trained in both firefighting and helicopter operations, ensuring efficient and rapid wildfire response. Helitack crews play a crucial role in the early stages of wildfire suppression and in preventing small fires from becoming large, destructive events.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Helitack Crew member, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Helitack Crew member, you need strong physical fitness, wildfire suppression knowledge, and specialized wildland firefighting training, often supported by certifications like S-130/S-190. Familiarity with helicopters, personal protective equipment (PPE), and fire communication systems is crucial. Teamwork, situational awareness, and the ability to stay calm under pressure are vital soft skills. These skills ensure safe, efficient wildfire response and the ability to adapt quickly to dynamic, high-risk environments.

What is the difference between Helitack Crew vs Firefighter?

AspectHelitack CrewFirefighter
CertificationsWildland Firefighter Type 2, Helicopter SafetyFirefighter I & II, EMT
Work EnvironmentHelicopter-based, remote wildland areasUrban, suburban, wildland
Employer & IndustryFederal, state agencies, forestry servicesFire departments, emergency services

Helitack Crews specialize in rapid response using helicopters to access wildland fires, often working in remote areas. Firefighters work in various environments, including urban and wildland settings, with broader emergency response roles. While both roles require wildland firefighting certifications, Helitack Crews focus on aerial operations, whereas firefighters may work on ground-based fire suppression.

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What job categories do people searching Helitack Crew jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Helitack Crew jobs are:
Helitack Crew jobs near you
Infographic showing various Helitack Crew job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 94% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 97% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,261 per year, or $21.3 per hour.

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Aviation) (Branch Chief) - Direct Hire Authority

IBC Opportunities | U.S. Department of the Interior

Boise, ID

$129K/yr

Other

Retirement

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans' preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority

These positions are Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Aviation) (Branch Chief), GW-0456-14, GW-0456-14 assigned to the Headquarters (HQ) Aviation: Flight Operations organization for the US Wildland Fire Service (USWFS).

Qualifications:

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below:

Selective Placement Factor(s): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.
Prior firefighting experience: This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either:

  • At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization;- OR -
  • At least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive).

Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement.
(Firefighter Special Retirement Secondary Coverage): This is a secondary/administrative fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION.
Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic entry requirement, applicants must have specialized experience to be found qualified. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade.
To qualify for the GS-14 grade level, 1 year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 is required. Examples of work include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Manages a regional/national program that supports wildland fire and aviation operations, including development of policies, guidance documents, and SOPs.
  • Provides leadership and technical authority for aviation operations used in wildland fire management and related operations.
  • Supervises an aviation team (base work GW-12/13), setting performance standards, conducting administrative functions, and overseeing a branch-level budget and procurement.
  • Establishes interagency partnership and collaborates on national level groups to develop interagency standards.
Education:Employment Type: OTHER

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