What You Need to Know About Forest Firefighter
Example of Forest Firefighter Job Control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land.
Life As a Forest Firefighter
- Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
- Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.
- Transport personnel and cargo to and from fire areas.
- Participate in physical training to maintain high levels of physical fitness.
- Establish water supplies, connect hoses, and direct water onto fires.
- Serve as fully trained lead helicopter crewmember and as helispot manager.
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Skills Needed to be a Forest Firefighter
Forest Firefighters state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Wildland Fire Fighter Specialist
- Smoke Eater
- Wildland Firefighter
- Fire Management Specialist
- Smoke Jumper
Is There Going to be Demand for Forest Firefighters?
There were about 327,300 jobs for Forest Firefighter in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 24,300 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Forest Firefighter Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Forest Firefighters is somewhere between $25,170 and $88,920.
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
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Forest Firefighters may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Are there Forest Firefighters education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Forest Firefighter?
Who Employs Forest Firefighters?
Below are examples of industries where Forest Firefighters work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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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