What Does it Take to Be a Forest Firefighter?
Forest Firefighter Job Description Control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land.
Daily Life Of a Forest Firefighter
- Participate in physical training to maintain high levels of physical fitness.
- Organize fire caches, positioning equipment for the most effective response.
- Transport personnel and cargo to and from fire areas.
- Rescue fire victims, and administer emergency medical aid.
- Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
- Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.
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Forest Firefighter Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Forest Firefighters say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Forest Firefighter
- Rescue Worker
- Forestry Fire Aid
- Hot Shot
- Fire Fighter
- Firefighter
Job Outlook for Forest Firefighters
In the United States, there were 327,300 jobs for Forest Firefighter in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23,600 new jobs for Forest Firefighter by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 24,300 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Forest Firefighter are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Forest Firefighters Salary
The salary for Forest Firefighters ranges between about $25,170 and $88,920 a year.
Forest Firefighters who work in New York, New Jersey, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Forest Firefighters make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,740 |
| Alaska | $51,110 |
| Arizona | $45,150 |
| Arkansas | $37,800 |
| California | $81,580 |
| Colorado | $61,160 |
| Connecticut | $63,630 |
| Delaware | $48,800 |
| Florida | $53,340 |
| Georgia | $38,060 |
| Hawaii | $62,670 |
| Idaho | $40,490 |
| Illinois | $56,710 |
| Indiana | $49,460 |
| Iowa | $43,970 |
| Kansas | $37,930 |
| Kentucky | $33,520 |
| Louisiana | $30,600 |
| Maine | $36,750 |
| Maryland | $61,780 |
| Massachusetts | $60,080 |
| Michigan | $45,440 |
| Minnesota | $37,690 |
| Mississippi | $30,370 |
| Missouri | $51,100 |
| Montana | $49,230 |
| Nebraska | $47,880 |
| Nevada | $66,830 |
| New Hampshire | $48,640 |
| New Jersey | $76,530 |
| New Mexico | $36,590 |
| New York | $73,710 |
| North Carolina | $35,500 |
| North Dakota | $42,980 |
| Ohio | $46,310 |
| Oklahoma | $43,450 |
| Oregon | $66,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,090 |
| Rhode Island | $55,240 |
| South Carolina | $36,300 |
| South Dakota | $44,710 |
| Tennessee | $40,280 |
| Texas | $52,520 |
| Utah | $37,960 |
| Vermont | $37,070 |
| Virginia | $51,510 |
| Washington | $73,850 |
| West Virginia | $36,820 |
| Wisconsin | $40,310 |
| Wyoming | $43,810 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Forest Firefighters
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Forest Firefighters:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Corel WordPerfect
- Fire incident reporting systems
How to Become a Forest Firefighter
Education needed to be a Forest Firefighter:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Forest Firefighter?
Who Employs Forest Firefighters?
The table below shows the approximate number of Forest Firefighters employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those who work as a Forest Firefighter sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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