1

Wildland Fire Crew Jobs (NOW HIRING)

FIRE CAPTAIN - ELY

Carson City, NV · On-site

$60K - $89K/yr

This position, under the supervision of the Battalion Chief acts as a supervisor of a wildland fire module/hand crew with multiple firefighters that participate in all functional areas of wildland ...

Showing results 41-60

Wildland Fire Crew information

See salary details

$14

$17

$22

How much do wildland fire crew jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for wildland fire crew in the United States is $17.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.62 and $18.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a wildland fire crew?

Wildland fire crews are specialized teams of firefighters who are trained to respond to and manage fires in forests, grasslands, and other natural areas. Their primary responsibilities include suppressing wildfires, performing controlled burns, creating firebreaks, and protecting natural resources and communities from fire damage. Wildland fire crews work in challenging environments, often in remote locations, and require physical fitness, teamwork, and specialized training in fire behavior and safety. These crews play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health and public safety during wildfire season.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a wildland fire crew member?

To thrive as a Wildland Fire Crew member, you need strong physical fitness, knowledge of fire behavior, and basic firefighting training, often supported by completion of the S-130/S-190 courses. Familiarity with fire suppression tools, GPS devices, and radios, as well as certification in wildland firefighting, are typically required. Teamwork, resilience under pressure, and quick decision-making are essential soft skills for this demanding and dynamic role. These abilities ensure crew safety, effective fire containment, and efficient operations in challenging environments.

What are some common challenges faced by members of a wildland fire crew, and how can new crew members prepare for them?

Members of a Wildland Fire Crew often face physically demanding work, long hours, and challenging environmental conditions such as extreme heat, smoke, and rugged terrain. New crew members should be prepared for the mental and physical demands by maintaining high fitness levels and developing resilience to work under pressure. Building strong teamwork and communication skills is essential, as effective collaboration is critical for safety and efficiency during fire suppression efforts. Additionally, understanding fire behavior and adhering to safety protocols will help new members adapt successfully to the unique demands of the role.

What is the difference between Wildland Fire Crew vs Firefighter?

AspectWildland Fire CrewFirefighter
CertificationsBasic wildland firefighting certifications (e.g., S-130, S-190)Firefighter I & II certifications, EMT often preferred
Work EnvironmentForests, national parks, wildland areas, outdoor terrainUrban and suburban areas, fire stations, emergency scenes
Employer & IndustryFederal agencies (USFS, BLM), state agencies, contractorsMunicipal fire departments, volunteer fire services
Common Search/ComparisonWildland Fire Crew vs Firefighter

Wildland Fire Crews focus on fighting fires in natural, outdoor environments, often requiring specialized wildland firefighting certifications. Firefighters typically work in urban settings, responding to various emergencies. While both roles involve fire suppression, their work environments, certifications, and employer types differ significantly.

More about Wildland Fire Crew jobs

What cities are hiring for Wildland Fire Crew jobs?

Cities with the most Wildland Fire Crew job openings:

What states have the most Wildland Fire Crew jobs?

States with the most job openings for Wildland Fire Crew jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Wildland Fire Crew jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Wildland Fire Crew jobs are:

Infographic showing various Wildland Fire Crew job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, and 19% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $36,489 per year, or $17.5 per hour.

Wildland Firefighter (Fire Dispatching)

US Department of the Interior

Albuquerque, NM • On-site

$68K/yr

Full-time, Part-time

Posted 3 days ago

New


U.S. Department Of The Interior rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

418th of 856 rated public administrative organizations


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

This Wildland Firefighter (Fire Dispatching) position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-8/9 working in the following location:

  • Albuquerque, New Mexico
Qualifications:

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.
To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

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.

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 Initial Attack Lead Dispatcher/Assistant Center Manager 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):
A.) Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher (EDSD)

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.

Minimum Qualification GW-08:

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include performing dispatch support duties, such as training, coaching, and motivating staff and co-workers in wildland fire dispatch functions; directing others in mobilization, reassignment and demobilization of wildland fire resources; making sound operational and cost-effective decisions in high complexity wildland fire situations.

Minimum Qualification GW-09:

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-08 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include performing wildland fire dispatch functions; training and supporting lower-graded dispatchers, and applying fire behavior, weather, and resource-management experience to ensure safe and effective mobilization during wildland fire incidents.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - 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: The work involves long hours of sitting, intense concentration, and working at peak proficiency/intensity levels with irregular breaks and mealtimes. Must be able to cope with the pressure of meeting timeframes and changing priorities. Mental concentration and accuracy are required. Vehicle and aircraft travel associated with field visits and other administrative travel may be required. Ability to remain calm under urgent and frequently changing conditions.
Working Conditions: Work is performed primarily in an office setting. During peak activity, increased radio traffic, numerous ringing phones, and conversations result in high noise levels, which require a high level of concentration to perform duties. The duties of this position create a highly stressful environment during peak activity, requiring the ability to keep calm in emergency situations.

Education:There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.Employment Type: OTHER

What U.S. Department Of The Interior employees say

Pay

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom