Also called: Air Tanker Pilot, Smokejumper Pilot
Flies air tankers and helicopters that drop water and fire retardant on wildfires.
You fly low over smoke and flames, lining up to drop thousands of gallons of retardant on the line a ground crew is defending. Fire season means long days and travel across the West.
Often seasonal contract pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 2 years after high school. Commercial pilot certificate plus thousands of hours; many are ex-military.
Ways in: Certification, Military. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Aviation/Professional Pilot.
Growing faster than average. Demand rising with longer fire seasons.
Low risk for 10 years. Uncrewed tankers are being tested, but low flying in smoke over mountains will need human pilots for years.
Classes: Physics, Earth science, Math, Physical education.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-2012.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.