How Much Money Do Smokejumpers Get Paid A Year?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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How much do smokejumpers make per year? The salaries of Smoke Jumpers in the US range from $23,010 to $79,490 , with a

median salary of $46,870

. The middle 60% of Smoke Jumpers makes $46,870, with the top 80% making $79,490.

Do smokejumpers make good money?

A smokejumper earns around

$16.00 per hour

while a smokejumper foreman earns about $24.00 per hour. Smokejumpers are paid nothing extra for making parachute jumps; however, they do receive hazard pay equivalent to 25 percent of their base pay when working on an uncontrolled wildfire.

How many smokejumpers have died?

This information is a tribute to the more than 5,000 men and women who have served our nation as smokejumpers since the start of the program in 1939. These are the accounts of the lives and deaths of the

more than 30 smokejumpers

who have been killed in the line of duty. Read their stories.

What benefits do smokejumpers get?

Smokejumpers are experienced wildland firefighters who fly to fires via airplane and parachute as closely as they can to a fire. Smokejumpers can

get to remote fires safely and quickly

, helping keep high-risk fires small.

How many hours do smokejumpers work?

They organize on a dime, remain completely self-sufficient for

up to 72 hours

, create access points for other arriving forces and provide seasoned leadership for assembling crews.

Is Smokejumpers a real job?

Smokejumpers are

specially trained wildland firefighters

who provide an initial attack response on remote wildland fires. They are inserted at the site of the fire by parachute. In addition to performing the initial attack on wildfires, they may also provide leadership for extended attacks on wildland fires.

How hard is it to become a smokejumper?

Apart from needing at least one season of specialized wildland fire suppression work to be considered for the job, smokejumpers need

one year of experience

to prove skill with hand tools, as well as familiarity with safe work practices.

How many smoke jumpers are there?

There are

fewer than 500 smokejumpers

working today (and fewer than 6000 ever).

How many smokejumper bases are there?

There are

nine smokejumper bases

located strategically throughout the Western United States; all are in close proximity to large, roadless, wildlands.

How do smokejumpers fight fires?

To stop a fire when there are no fire hydrants or firetrucks to supply water, smokejumpers

create a “firebreak”

—a zone that interrupts the fire’s fuel source—by felling trees, cutting brush, and digging long trenches in the ground ahead of the direction the fire is traveling.

How much do Alaska Smokejumpers make?

For example, smokejumpers in Alaska receive a locality increase of 29.67 percent due to the high cost of living in the state. This increases the annual GS-5 step 1 pay

to $39,048 a year

, while the step 10 yearly salary goes to $50,765.

Are Smokejumpers hotshots?

Hotshots and Smokejumpers are

elite firefighters both battling wildfires

before it spreads far enough to pose a threat. However, Mallia said there is a difference. “The biggest difference is just the way we’re delivered to the fire. So Smokejumpers are delivered aerial.

How much do hotshots get paid?

As a federal worker, a Hotshot Firefighter earns an average of

$13 per hour during off-season

. The pay increases during the peak fire season where they work up to 16 hours, sometimes even extending up to 48-64 hours. They earn an average salary of $40,000 during a six-month season (including overtime and hazard pay).

What smoke jumper means?

Smokejumpers are

wildland firefighters trained to parachute into fires

. … Smokejumpers are also called upon to provide rescue and first-aid services on fires and other emergencies in rugged and remote locations.

How long does it take to be a smokejumper?

Most applicants selected to become McCall Smokejumpers have

at least 3-5 years as a wildland firefighter

prior to applying. If you have no previous experience as a wildland firefighter, you need not be discouraged.

Can hotshots have beards?

Can hotshots have beards? Generally,

no, you will not be allowed to have a beard

and will most likely be required to be clean shaven all times while on duty.

How do I get a job as a smokejumper?

To apply

go to USAJOBS – The Federal Government’s Official Jobs Site

. The application period for GS-5 and GS-6 smokejumper positions are currently open. Applications must be posted in USAJOBS no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.

Do you need to go to college to be a smokejumper?

Successful

completion of 4 years of study leading to a bachelor’s degree in a related field

, plus at least one season* of wildland fire suppression work, as defined below. Experience for a GS-6: … One season of smokejumping fire suppression work at the GS-5 grade level is also required.

Who were the first smoke jumpers?

The Birth of the Smokejumpers

Smokejumping was born on the Nez Perce National Forest. It was on the Nez Perce National Forests’s Moose Creek Ranger District that

Rufus Robinson of Kooskia, Idaho and Earl Cooley, of Hamilton, Montana

, made the nation’s first “live” fire jump, at the Martin Creek Fire on July 12, 1940.

Where was Smokejumpers filmed?

Two film crews from Disney Studios descended on

the agency’s Redding Smokejumper Base in northern California

the first week of May. They were there to interview and take video footage of the Forest Service’s firefighters in advance of the movie’s release in July.

Where do smoke jumpers live?

Today about 500 smokejumpers work for the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management at nine bases, all in

the western United States

. (Russia, on the other hand, is home to more smokejumpers than any other nation on the planet–about 4,000.)

Why do hotshots wear yellow?

Why do wildland firefighters wear yellow?

Because visibility on the fireline is critical to your safety

. Our classic bright yellow shirts allow your teammates, aircraft, and incident commanders to see you from miles away.

Why are smokejumpers called to put out a fire?

Why are smokejumpers called to put out a fire?

It is easier for them to put out a fire

. It is safer for them to fight a fire.

Are there smokejumpers in Texas?

For the first time,

smokejumpers have jumped on a fire in Texas

, while also breaking the record for the southern-most fire jump. … The Gila Smokejumpers have worked from Silver City, New Mexico, since 1954 as part of a seasonal crew made up of jumpers from bases throughout the western United States.

Are there smoke jumpers?

Smokejumpers

travel all over the country

, including Alaska, to provide highly-trained, experienced firefighters and leadership for quick initial attack on wildland fires in remote areas. … Most smokejumpers work from late spring through early fall. Smokejumpers perform pre-season jump.

What type of parachutes do smokejumpers use?

On average, smokejumpers primarily use

the DC-7 over

the CR-360, this is due primarily because they were initially trained on the DC-7, but during spring refresher training, smokejumpers try to jump both parachutes to remain proficient.

What’s a hotshot?

A hotshot is

someone who’s highly talented and successful in a particular field

, especially someone who’s cocky about it. Hotshot can also be used as an adjective to describe such a person.

What it takes to be a hotshot?

The path to becoming a Hotshot can vary, but it typically includes experience as

a Type-2 Firefighter on a Fire Engine Module

, Type 2 Handcrew, Fire Use Module, or Helitack Crew with one of the Federal land management agencies (such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or National Park Service).

Where are the highest paid firefighters?

Best-Paying States for Firefighters

The states and districts that pay Firefighters the highest mean salary are

California ($84,370)

, New Jersey ($80,890), Washington ($76,970), New York ($75,160), and Nevada ($69,310).

Does Vince do smokejumpers?

Vince tried to get back in the saddle playing a firefighter in Smoke Jumpers, alongside Jason Patric and Edward Norton. Unfortunately,

Vince clashed with the director during filming and was ultimately fired

— but the movie was never completed anyway.

What countries have Smokejumpers?

The United States isn’t the only country that uses smokejumpers. Smokejumpers are also used by

the Russian Federation, Mongolia, and Canada

. In fact, the Russian Federation employs more smokejumpers (several thousand) than any other country.

How much do Smokejumpers make in Canada?

Salary Recap

The average pay for a Smoke Jumper is

$63,792 a year and $31 an hour

in Canada. The average salary range for a Smoke Jumper is between $46,596 and $78,136.

What is a firefighter hotshot?

A hotshot crew consists

of 20 specially-trained firefighters

. They provide an organized, mobile, and skilled workforce for all phases of wildland fire management. Hotshot crews receive top-notch training, adhere to high physical standards, and have the ability to take on difficult assignments.

What is a haunted smokejumper?

:

a forest firefighter who parachutes to locations otherwise difficult to reach

.

How much do firefighters make?

How much do firefighters get paid? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average firefighter makes

about $50,850 annually

or $24.45 per hour.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.