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Hotshot Crew Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$62K/yr

Served on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) or assigned to lead fire suppression under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain. Performed interdisciplinary ...

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Hotshot Crew information

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$10

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$32

How much do hotshot crew jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for hotshot 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 is a hotshot crew?

A Hotshot Crew is a specialized team of wildland firefighters trained to handle the most challenging and high-risk fire situations. They work in remote locations, constructing firebreaks, suppressing wildfires, and performing controlled burns. Crews often endure long hours in extreme conditions, requiring high physical fitness and teamwork. Hotshots are deployed nationwide wherever wildfires pose the greatest threat.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the hotshot crew position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Hotshot Crew member, you need excellent physical fitness, wildfire suppression skills, and experience with fire behavior and safety procedures; most positions require completion of relevant fire training courses and certifications like the Wildland Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2). Mastery of specialized tools such as chainsaws, pumps, and handheld firefighting equipment is essential, and familiarity with GPS systems and radios is often required. Strong teamwork, resilience under stress, and effective communication are key soft skills that elevate performance in this demanding field. These abilities ensure the safety and effectiveness of the crew when responding to complex and hazardous wildland fires.

What is a typical work schedule like for a hotshot crew member?

Hotshot Crew members typically work in highly variable and demanding schedules, often involving long shifts of up to 16 hours during active fire assignments, including nights, weekends, and holidays. When not deployed to fires, crews spend time on physical training, equipment maintenance, and prescribed burns to reduce wildfire risk. Assignments can require travel for weeks at a time, and living in remote locations under rugged conditions is common. This unpredictable schedule is important to ensure timely responses to wildfire emergencies, so flexibility and commitment are key for anyone considering this role.

How do I get into a hotshot crew?

To join a hotshot crew, applicants typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, physical fitness, and relevant experience in firefighting or outdoor labor. Many crews require completion of basic firefighting training and certifications such as S-130 and S-190, and applicants often go through an application process that includes interviews and background checks.

How much do hotshot crews make?

Hotshot crews are highly skilled wildfire suppression teams that typically earn between $15 and $25 per hour, with annual salaries ranging from approximately $30,000 to $50,000 depending on experience, location, and season. Many crew members work long hours in challenging environments and may receive overtime pay and hazard pay during wildfire seasons.
More about Hotshot Crew jobs

What cities are hiring for Hotshot Crew jobs?

Cities with the most Hotshot Crew job openings:

What states have the most Hotshot Crew jobs?

States with the most job openings for Hotshot Crew jobs include:

Infographic showing various Hotshot Crew job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 87% In-person, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,261 per year, or $21.3 per hour.

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Interagency Hotshot Crew Superintendent)

Forest Service

Flagstaff, AZ • On-site, Remote

$78K - $101K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 4 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

161st of 295 rated public sector bodies


Job description

Summary
These positions are located on a USDA Forest Service Unit.
Position serves as Superintendent of an organized, highly skilled Interagency Hotshot Crew, a national resource for wildland fire suppression activities.
See ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONfor Regional Contacts.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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  • Ensures assigned personnel consistently meet fire readiness standards.
  • Responsible for making on-site evaluations of conditions, making tactical decisions, and determining appropriate responses.
  • Determines pre-suppression and suppression needs annually and facilitates procurement.
  • Develops and implements a training program for the Hotshot Crew in compliance with applicable requirements of providing complete coverage of fire suppression, procedures, methods, techniques, and physical conditioning.
  • Responsible for fire related assignments and project work, such as monitoring fuel inventories, preattack planning, brush disposal, backlog fuels disposal and preparation.
  • Plans the work to be accomplished by the unit, assigns work to employees, and establishes production or quality standards for the unit's work.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
  • Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
  • Under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the requirement.
  • As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications
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.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GW-10 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-08) in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience include: Identified and analyzed suppression tactics and strategies employed on wildland fires, and revised and/or developed approaches in view of such conditions and/or was responsible for making on-site evaluations of conditions, making tactical decisions, and determining appropriate responses pertinent to initial attack, large wildland fire suppression activities and wildland urban interface/intermix situations and/or and exercised discretion in selecting work methods from among a variety of alternatives used to plan and execute support activities for fire and aviation management.
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.
Selective Placement Factors
Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Task Force Leader (TFLD) -AND- Successfully completed the NWCG Course Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4)-AND- Firing Boss (FIRB).
Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service - Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) qualifications must be met by the time of selection. Most recent IQCS master record and/or signed Agency Certified task book must be attached to your application. If you are selected, you may be required to submit an updated IQCS master record or signed Agency Certified task book as proof of attainment of IFPM requirements prior to a final verbal offer.
In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past, and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.
Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement -OR-currently occupy a permanent position with primary fire fighter retirement coverage.
For those who do not currently occupy a permanent Federal position covered under primary fire fighter retirement, you must be under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position; or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and requesting a waiver to the requirement.
This position has been identified under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy. IFPM or FS-FPM selective placement factors are made up of a primary and secondary National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) core Incident Management Qualifications and Required Training. The applicant must possess these qualifications at the applicable complexity level to be considered eligible for this position.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a primary/rigorous 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.
WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS, MODERATE, or LIGHT level is a condition of employment.
To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
There is no substitution of education for specialized experience.
Additional information
For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: To see the different locations within the Regional Offices | US Forest Service (usda.gov)
Region 1: Northern Region - Tiffany Counts at tiffany.counts@usda.gov
Region 2: Rocky Mountain Region - Timothy Griffin at timothy.e.griffin@usda.gov
Region 3: Southwestern Region - Tobe Haught at tobe.haught@usda.gov
Region 4: Intermountain Region - Bradley Bugger at bradley.bugger@usda.gov
Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region - Brian Grabowski - brian.grabowski@usda.gov
Region 6: Pacific Northwest Region - Shalyn Whitson shalyn.whitson@usda.gov
Region 8: Southern Region - Russ Marchion at russell.marchion@usda.gov
Region 9: Eastern Region - Brian Hicks at brian.a.hicks@usda.gov
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.
These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay periods full-time employment).
The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.
Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.
Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov.
Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period (unless prior service is creditable). New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program before the end of their probationary period.
Government housing and federal day care facilities may be available.
Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE. This is dependent upon unit location.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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