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Tree Falling Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Tree Falling information

See California salary details

$15

$28

$49

How much do tree falling jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for tree falling in California is $28.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.07 and $32.74 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What safety measures should I expect to follow when working as a tree faller?

As a tree faller, adhering to strict safety protocols is essential due to the hazardous nature of the work. You will routinely use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as helmets, eye and ear protection, chainsaw-resistant clothing, and safety boots. The job also requires constant communication with your team to ensure everyone is aware of the direction of the fall and any potential hazards. Regular safety briefings, equipment inspections, and adherence to industry best practices are key parts of the daily routine. Being proactive and attentive to safety not only protects you but also your coworkers and the surrounding environment.

What are tree falling jobs?

Tree falling jobs involve the process of cutting down trees in a controlled and safe manner. Professionals who perform this work, often called fallers or arborists, use specialized equipment and techniques to remove trees for reasons such as safety, land clearing, or timber harvesting. The role requires knowledge of tree biology, safety protocols, and environmental regulations. Tree falling can be dangerous, so proper training and protective gear are essential. These jobs are commonly found in forestry, landscaping, and utility maintenance industries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Tree Faller, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Tree Faller, you need expertise in tree assessment, safe cutting techniques, and physical stamina, often supported by forestry training or certification. Proficiency with chainsaws, safety gear, and sometimes GPS or mapping tools is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and strong communication are essential soft skills for ensuring safety and effective teamwork. These skills and qualities are crucial for minimizing hazards, maximizing efficiency, and ensuring regulatory compliance in a high-risk environment.

What is the difference between Tree Falling vs Tree Climber?

AspectTree FallingTree Climber
Required CertificationsChainsaw certification, safety trainingClimbing safety, chainsaw operation
Work EnvironmentGround-based, often remoteIn trees, at various heights
Industry UsageTree removal, land clearingTree maintenance, pruning

Tree Falling and Tree Climber roles often overlap but differ mainly in focus. Tree Falling involves cutting down trees from the ground, requiring specialized safety and chainsaw skills. Tree Climber involves ascending trees for pruning or maintenance, emphasizing climbing safety and tree care skills. Both roles are essential in arboriculture and often work together on tree removal projects.

What are popular job titles related to Tree Falling jobs in California? For Tree Falling jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Tree Falling jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Tree Falling jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Tree Falling job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $59,881 per year, or $28.8 per hour.

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Wildland Fire Operations Technician)

IBC Opportunities | U.S. Department of the Interior

Jamul, CA โ€ข On-site

$78K/yr

Other

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

This Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Wildland Fire Operations Technician) position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-10 working in the following locations:
Bishop, CA: 1 vacancy
Lee Vining, CA: 1 vacancy
Ridgecrest, CA: 1 vacancy
Mineral or Tulelake, CA: 1 vacancy
Santa Monica, CA: 1 vacancy
Onyx, CA: 1 vacancy
Taft, CA: 1 vacancy
Riverside or Jamul, CA: 1 vacancy
Willows or El Dorado Hills, CA: 1 vacancy
Hawaii National Park, HI: 1 vacancy
Thousand Oaks, CA: 1 vacancy

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 on-the-line firefighting: This experience must be clearly documented in your resume with specific to and from dates, description of work performed, and hours worked per week in order to be considered. This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is 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 for incumbents of this position.
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.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Wildland Fire Operations Specialist - High Complexity and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found here: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM). To meet IFPM requirements, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required at time of referral, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected):

  • Pathways #1: Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS) and Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) or Prescribed Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2); OR
  • Pathways #2: Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS) and Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)

In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.
Minimum Qualification

For the GW-10 level:
If you are a current or former federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-08 grade level equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Leading a wildland fire module in the suppression of wildland fire incidents, such as on a Handcrew: locating fireline and directing fireline construction, backfiring and burnout operations, engine and pump operations, brush clearing, tree falling and holding/patrol/mop up operations; Prescribed Fire: monitoring fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather; collecting fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, map projects, weather, and records maintenance; Engine: operating a wildland fire engine directing the correct positioning, starting, priming, and adjusting pump valves, hose, nozzles and adjusting additives; Helitack: directing the loading of helicopter, flight manifests, preparing and hooking long line loads.
If you have never been or are NOT a current federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-09 grade level. Specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Assisting in the supervision of a wildland fire module described above, assisting in the day to-day planning of work assignments and distribution of work, determining preparedness and suppression needs, facilitating procurement, formulating and preparing project plans for the module; managing inventory and assigning property; ensuring safe operation of tools and equipment; determining training needs; determining best tactical method of fire suppression, tools and methods to use; maintaining records and reports on crew hours and movements and history of action taken on fires; determining probable causes of fire and preserves evidence.

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.

Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience. In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting. Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.
Working Conditions: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing). Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotorwing aircraft.

Education:Education may not be used to qualify for this position.Employment Type: OTHER