Public Safety

How to become a Wildland Firefighter

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–4 months

Typical pay

$38k–$58k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required — not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   2–4 weeks

   Get your red card

   Basic wildland training (S-130/S-190) plus the arduous pack test.

   ◆ NWCG Incident Qualification Card

2. 2

   1–4 months

   Apply for a seasonal crew

   Federal hiring opens in autumn for the following summer. Deadlines are strict.

3. 3

   1 season

   Work a season

   Said plainly: long hours, hazard pay and overtime are the income. Base pay alone is low.

4. 4

   2–5 years

   Build toward a career appointment

   Hotshot crews, engine captain, or across into permanent federal fire roles.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Wildland Firefighter

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