Job Description
Wildland Firefighters use special techniques and equipment to suppress wildfires. Hand crews, helitack crews, airtankers, rappellers and smokejumpers all contribute to create firelines, backburns, and controlled burns in order to isolate and wildfires that can be attacked with water or fire retardants from aerial tankers.

Median Salary
$62,593

Education Requirements
While education beyond the high school level is not generally a requirement for a basic rookie position, superior wildland firefighters are expected to have two years of education above the high school level which included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science

Job Outlook
Although employment is expected to grow as fast as the average for all jobs, candidates for these positions are expected to face keen competition as these positions are highly attractive and sought after. The good news for applicants is that due to extreme physical demands within wildland firefighting, retention rates are low and positions are consistently open.