There is a need for more firefighters, and the first question that comes to mind is how much you are likely to earn if you want to become a wildland firefighter. According to Indeed, firefighters make an average of about $47,000 per year, while a wildland firefighter currently makes over $100,000 on average per year. Such a huge difference, right? You should keep reading to find out what makes wildland firefighters special and how much you are likely to earn if you do become one.
Government policy concerning wildland firefighters’ salaries
As of June 2022, the Biden government has signed a document to increase the base wage of wildland firefighters to $15 from its previous $13. There is even a plan to make the payment retroactive to October 2021, which means that firefighters who have been working since at least October 2021 get to be paid in arrears. This is of course the minimum pay per hour. The pay could increase based on some factors that will be discussed later in this article. One of the reasons for which the government is making this increase is that they want the career to attract more people seeing the problem with wildland firefighting. Also, as earlier mentioned, global warming is making all kinds of changes to our ecosystem. This accounts for the heat waves, flash floods, extreme winters, and many other changes to the prevalent weather conditions that we are used to. It is therefore important to prepare and ensure more people are attracted to becoming wildland firefighters by making the salary scale more attractive.
What determines how much you get paid as a wildland firefighter?
- Your location: If you work in a city, your salary may be higher than if you work in a rural area.
- Your experience: If you have more than one year of experience, your salary may be higher than if you only have one year of experience.
- Your education: If you have a college degree or an equivalent, your salary may be higher than if you don’t have any education at all.
Why are wildland firefighters getting so much increase in pay?
Wildland firefighters are a high-risk job – much like a soldier going into battle, only they battle with fire and not enemy combatants or insurgents. The truth is, fire can be very unpredictable and many firefighters lose their life on duty or get disabled. For this reason, the federal government is choosing to increase their pay such that the career looks more lucrative and worth the risk to any aspiring American who would like to join the fight against forest fires. Also, with increased pay, wildland firefighters get to provide their families with the essentials and they can live as comfortably as possible. ..
Do I need a college degree to be a wildland firefighter?
There are many ways to increase your chances of being a firefighter, including getting a degree in forestry or any related course. A high school diploma is the minimum requirement, but getting a degree can help you move up the ladder faster.
This is because you can learn new things that can help you and give you an edge over the others on the field.
What license do I need to be a wildland firefighter?
As a firefighter, you may be called upon to drive the fire truck at any time. This means that you must be a certified driver to be employable.
Conclusion
Wildland firefighters are in high demand due to the changing climate. The recent salary increase is a good enough motivation for anyone interested in the profession. ..
The salary calculator on Indeed.com provides an idea of how much firefighters in your area are making. If you’re interested in getting a pay raise, it might be a good idea to approach your employer about it.
Seasonal wildland firefighters are only called in when there is too much work and the personnel is overworked. ..
The average annual salary for seasonal firefighters is $50,000. Some seasonal firefighters earn as much as $95,000. ..
