Hotshot firefighters earn between $52,552 and $87,483 per year, which stands out among public service roles. These elite firefighters receive an average salary of $62,821 annually. They can also earn additional compensation of $4,000 to $7,000 through bonuses and profit sharing.

Recent legislation suggests a major shift in wildland firefighter compensation with proposed pay increases up to 42%. The Biden administration wants to raise the minimum wage to $29 per hour from the current base rate of $15.47. Peak fire seasons bring substantial overtime opportunities, and these specialized firefighters can earn $30,000 to $50,000 extra over a 6-month period.

This piece gets into the real earnings of hotshot firefighters and breaks down their base pay, overtime opportunities, and location-based compensation differences. Readers will learn about state-specific variations and how career advancement can affect their earning potential.

Base Pay Structure for Hotshot Firefighters

Federal wildland firefighters, especially those on hotshot crews, work under a pay system that changed recently. The General Schedule (GS) pay scale is the foundation of their compensation. Entry-level positions start at GS-3 level and earn $26,150 per year.

Starting salary ranges

Hotshot firefighters’ base pay follows a tiered structure. Entry-level positions usually start at GS-3 or GS-4 levels, with a base hourly wage of $15.47. All the same, a new pay structure would give high earnings across all GS levels. GS-3 positions would get a 36% increase, while GS-4 positions would see a 33% boost.

The federal government has also taken steps to boost firefighter pay. An executive order raised the federal minimum wage to $15.00 per hour for federal workers. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allowed salary increases up to $20,000 or 50% of base salary in areas where hiring and keeping staff is difficult.

Geographic pay differences

Location is a vital factor in hotshot firefighter pay. The Department of Agriculture and the Office of Personnel Management have set specific criteria to identify areas with staffing challenges. These criteria include:

• Positions needing three or more recruitment attempts
• Total turnover rates above 6.5% for permanent employees
• Voluntary separation rates above 2.5%
• A 20% or higher drop in qualified applicants
• Declination rates above 10% for any position

More than 14,000 federal wildland firefighters received extra salary increases based on where they work as of June 2023. Their basic pay increases also come with locality pay, which adds to their total compensation.

California hotshot firefighter salary specifics

California pays its hotshot firefighters well. Cal Fire, the state’s firefighting organization, has a monthly base salary from $3,672 to $4,643. Firefighters also get extended duty week pay of $1,824 to $2,306 every four weeks.

The state’s detailed benefits package has:

• Employee pension managed by CalPERS
• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid holidays and accrued leave

The pay gap between federal and California state firefighters has become a major issue. Federal agencies employ over 10,000 wildland firefighters and provide specialized units like Hotshot Crews, Smokejumpers, and Rappellers. Their pay falls behind state counterparts. This has made it hard to keep federal wildland firefighters on the job.

New legislation wants to fix these differences by creating a separate pay table from the traditional GS scale. This includes an “Incident Response Premium Pay” system that offers 450% of the base pay rate daily after 36 hours for wildland firefighting activities. The system will make base pay increases count toward retirement calculations, unlike older supplemental payments.

Additional Pay Components

Hotshot firefighters earn much more than their base salary. Their annual earnings get a substantial boost through many additional pay components. Entry-level positions see these extra earnings make up a big chunk of their total income.

Overtime calculations

Overtime pay is a significant part of what hotshot firefighters earn. These dedicated professionals put in around 600 overtime hours each year. This equals 15 extra 40-hour work weeks. The overtime rate follows these guidelines:

• FLSA-covered firefighters get 1.5 times their basic pay for overtime
• A standard 14-day deployment runs about 16 hours daily
• Work hours beyond 53 per week receive premium pay

Hazard pay rates

Hazard pay adds another major income stream with a 25% increase to base pay for hazardous assignments. The system has some challenges though:

• The 50-year-old pay structure doesn’t deal very well with modern firefighting needs
• Fire seasons bring varying hazard pay chances, which leads to unpredictable income
• Entry-level firefighters start at $13.45 per hour and often look for extra hazardous work to boost their earnings

Premium pay opportunities

New laws have brought improved premium pay structures to better reward these essential workers. The new system lets firefighters receive:

• Incident Response Premium Pay at 450% of base pay rate daily after 36 hours of deployment
• Night differential of 10% for nighttime operations
• Sunday premium pay of 25% for regularly scheduled Sunday work
• A temporary bonus that raises average pay by either 50% or $20,000, whichever is lower

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has approved major changes to premium pay structures. These changes include:

1. Premium pay for wildfire incidents, prescribed fires, and severity assignments over 36 hours
2. Pay for deployments outside official duty stations
3. Extra pay for assignments to fire camps or designated field locations
4. Three days of rest and recuperation leave after 14-day assignments

The Department of Interior’s 2025 budget proposal has $75 million set aside for permanent pay increases. This money will help create:

• A special base rate salary table
• New premium pay categories
• Better compensation for incident mobilization
• More support for physical and mental health programs

These detailed pay components show the demanding nature of hotshot firefighting work. They also reflect ongoing efforts to fairly compensate these vital public servants.

Seasonal Earnings Breakdown

Peak fire season gives hotshot firefighters great earning opportunities with pay structures that reward their tough work schedules. A wildland firefighter can make $30,000 to $50,000 in a 6-month fire season. The actual amount depends on their crew assignment and how much overtime they can work.

Peak season income potential

Fire season intensity directly affects how much firefighters can earn. Most hotshot firefighters work about 700 overtime hours during the season. Their typical work schedule looks like this:

• Three back-to-back 24-hour shifts (72-hour workweeks)
• 16-hour daily shifts on active fires
• Extra hazard pay of 25% for uncontrolled fireline work

A hotshot firefighter’s base pay of $15 per hour can jump up quite a bit with overtime and hazard pay:

• Overtime rate: $22.50 per hour
• Extra hazard pay: $3.75 per hour

Permanent positions now range from GS-3 to GS-9, with yearly base salaries between $26,150 and $49,765. Firefighters also get detailed benefits including health insurance. The agency pays for 72-75% of health insurance premiums for full-time staff.

Off-season opportunities

The core team members switch to different roles after the intense fire season ends. They often work as:

• Trainers for firefighting courses
• Equipment maintenance specialists
• Planning and administrative staff
• Committee or task group members

Seasonal workers need different strategies to keep earning during off-season. Job listings usually appear between October and December, and hiring happens from January through March. During this time, firefighters usually:

• Take college classes
• Find temporary jobs in related fields
• Work as emergency room technicians (if they have EMT certification)
• Help with equipment maintenance and prescribed burn operations

New laws want to help with the challenges of seasonal work. A fresh initiative plans to turn 1,000 seasonal jobs into permanent positions. This change will give workers steady health insurance and benefits all year. It shows how wildfire seasons have grown longer and less predictable.

The federal government has also stepped up to boost financial security by setting a minimum base salary of $20,000. These changes show growing support for the profession’s demands and the need for stable, year-round jobs in wildland firefighting.

Career Advancement and Pay Increases

Professional growth for hotshot firefighters follows a clear path upward. Your advancement depends on your experience, qualifications, and how well you show leadership skills. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) sets complete standards that shape career growth in this field.

Experience-based raises

We based career advancement on field experience and formal certifications. Senior firefighters make between $79,000 and $145,000 each year, which is a big jump from entry-level pay. Assistant chiefs can earn anywhere from $128,000 to $239,000.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act brought several experience-based improvements:

• Hotshot superintendents got bumped up from GS-09 to GS-10
• Career ladders now go up to GS-06 grade level
• New GS-3/4/5/6 senior firefighter career paths

Qualification upgrades

You need to finish specific Position Task Books (PTBs) and NWCG training to move up. The qualification process has these steps:

1. Complete NWCG training
2. Document Position Task Book
3. Get certified by unit training officers
4. Get nominated for higher qualifications

The NWCG updated its qualification standards and added:

• Complex Incident Management (CIM) implementation
• Next Generation Position Task Books
• Performance Support Packages
• Updated Incident Position Descriptions

You can now qualify through different paths:

• Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
• NWCG position endorsements
• National Fire Academy Structural Fire Skills Crosswalk

Senior hotshot firefighter salary levels

Senior wildland firefighters earn good money that matches their skills and duties. The current pay structure has:

• Base salary from $72,386 to $130,219 per year
• Extra compensation around $20,319 yearly
• Senior positions pay $21 to $34 per hour

Senior positions typically bring in $4,531 to $7,536 monthly, plus great benefits. But keeping firefighters remains tough, as shown by:

• U.S. Forest Service lost 45% of its wildland firefighters in three years
• State agencies lure workers away with better pay
• Even experienced staff must reapply for their jobs

New laws try to fix these issues through:

• Permanent pay increases instead of temporary bonuses
• $330 million set aside for ongoing salary increases
• New health and wellness programs for firefighters

The field keeps changing as it creates lasting career paths. Senior firefighters must recertify and keep learning to stay sharp in today’s complex wildfire environments. Better pay and these requirements show that hotshot firefighting has become a real career, not just seasonal work.

State-Specific Salary Variations

The complex world of hotshot firefighter salaries shows striking pay differences between states. State agencies now compete for talented firefighters, and the gap between federal and state-level compensation continues to affect the workforce.

Arizona hotshot firefighter compensation

Arizona’s hotshot firefighters earn much less than their peers in other states. Firefighters working for the Department of Forestry and Fire Management make about $35,000 per year. Their salaries range from $28,889 to $64,301, though most earn between $34,900 and $53,600.

Governor Katie Hobbs wants to give state wildland firefighters a 15% raise to solve hiring and retention problems. This increase will help:

• Match California’s pay rates
• Attract younger professionals
• Keep experienced staff
• Support teams fighting more intense wildfires

California pay scales

California leads the pack with its higher pay structure. Cal Fire pays monthly base salaries from $3,672 to $4,643, plus extra duty week pay of $1,824 to $2,306 every four weeks. California hotshot firefighters typically earn between $30,594 and $68,096 annually.

The state offers better benefits than federal services through:

• Twice the retirement percentage compared to federal fire service
• Better pension benefits that could mean $2.28 million more over 30 years
• Higher overtime pay for extra shifts
• Entry-level temporary workers earn more than many federal managers

Other state comparisons

Federal and state pay differences remain a big problem nationwide. Federal firefighters earn 32.5% less than state workers in similar roles. This gap creates several challenges:

• Federal agencies can’t compete in tight job markets
• Experienced staff often move to state services for better pay
• Some California Interagency Hotshot Crews lack enough staff
• Federal GS-6 positions pay less than entry-level state jobs

Cal Fire’s seasonal firefighters earn $50,000 to $65,000, which is much higher than other states. Four senators asked the Office of Personnel Management to make federal and state wildland firefighter pay rates more equal.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now funds efforts to close these gaps. The law brings:

• Special base rates for wildland firefighters
• Better premium pay structures
• Improved benefits packages
• More career growth opportunities

Pay differences between regions remain a challenge. The federal government works to establish fair pay rates, knowing they need competitive compensation wherever hotshot crews work.

Hotshot firefighting is one of the most challenging yet financially rewarding careers in public service. Recent laws have substantially improved compensation packages. Entry-level salaries have jumped from $15.47 to a proposed $29 per hour. These elite firefighters now earn between $52,552 and $87,483 yearly. They can make even more through overtime and hazard pay during peak fire seasons.

California and other states pay their firefighters better than federal agencies. Federal agencies struggle to recruit because of lower pay rates. New programs want to fix this gap by improving base rates, premium pay and benefits packages.

Senior hotshot firefighters can now earn up to $145,000 per year through well-laid-out career paths. The profession now offers better year-round jobs and complete benefits. This shows growing appreciation for these vital public servants.

These changes reflect a radical alteration in how society values wildland firefighting professionals. Wildfire seasons keep getting longer and more intense. Hotshot firefighters play a significant role in protecting both public safety and the environment.

Some FAQs about Hotshot firefighter salary:

What are the highest paid firefighters?

The highest paid firefighters are typically those working in large metropolitan areas or specialized roles, such as hotshot firefighters or fire captains. Hotshot firefighter salary can vary, but these elite crews often earn more due to the dangerous and demanding nature of their work. In California, for example, a hotshot firefighter salary in California can range from $40,000to$70,000 annually, depending on experience and overtime.

Where do Wildland firefighters make the most money?

Wildland firefighters make the most money in states with high wildfire activity, such as California, Oregon, and Washington. The hotshot wildland firefighter salary in these regions is often higher due to the increased demand and hazardous conditions. Additionally, federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) tend to offer competitive pay compared to state or local departments.

How to be a wildland firefighter in Texas?

To be a wildland firefighter in Texas, you must meet basic requirements such as being at least 18 years old, having a high school diploma or GED, and passing a physical fitness test. You’ll also need to complete training courses like S-130/S-190 (Basic Firefighter Training) and obtain certifications such as EMT or CPR. While the firefighter hotshot salary in Texas may vary, gaining experience through seasonal work or volunteer positions can help you advance in this field.

How much do Wildland firefighters make in Canada?

Wildland firefighters in Canada typically earn between CAD $40,000and$70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the agency they work for. While this is lower than the average salary of a hotshot firefighter in the U.S., Canadian firefighters often receive additional benefits like hazard pay and overtime during peak wildfire seasons. Salaries can also vary by province, with higher pay in regions like British Columbia and Alberta.

What is the hardest firefighter job?

The hardest firefighter job is often considered to be a hotshot firefighter, as they work in the most dangerous and remote wildfire conditions. These crews are tasked with creating firebreaks and battling intense blazes, often for long hours with minimal rest. The hotshot firefighter salary reflects the demanding nature of the job, but it requires exceptional physical fitness, mental resilience, and specialized training.

Do firefighters make good money in Texas?

Firefighters in Texas can make good money, with salaries ranging from $40,000to$60,000 annually, depending on experience and location. While this may be lower than the hotshot firefighter salary in California, Texas firefighters often benefit from lower living costs. Additionally, specialized roles or promotions, such as becoming a fire captain or joining a hotshot crew, can significantly increase earning potential.

What degrees are best for wildland firefighters?

The best degrees for wildland firefighters include fire science, forestry, environmental science, or emergency management. These programs provide foundational knowledge in fire behavior, ecology, and emergency response, which are critical for the job. While a degree isn’t always required, it can help you stand out when applying for positions and may lead to higher pay, such as the average salary of a hotshot firefighter.

How old are most wildland firefighters?

Most wildland firefighters are between the ages of 18 and 35, as the job is physically demanding and requires high levels of endurance. However, there are exceptions, and some firefighters continue working into their 40s or beyond, especially in leadership or less physically intensive roles. The hotshot wildland firefighter salary often attracts younger individuals seeking adventure and a challenging career.

How much does a forest firefighter earn in the US?

A forest firefighter in the US typically earns between $30,000and$60,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the agency they work for. Hotshot crews, who handle the most dangerous wildfires, often earn more, with the average salary of a hotshot firefighter ranging from $40,000to$70,000. Overtime and hazard pay can significantly increase earnings during peak wildfire seasons.