Also called: Fire Behavior Analyst, Fire Scientist
Predicts how a wildfire will spread so firefighters know where to work safely.
At a wildfire camp, you combine weather, terrain, and fuel data to forecast tomorrow's fire growth, then brief crews at the 6 a.m. meeting.
Based on conservation scientists and foresters; overtime during fire season adds a lot.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 5 years after high school. Bachelor's in forestry, fire science, or meteorology plus wildland fire experience and qualifications.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Forestry, Fire Science, Meteorology, Environmental Science.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. AI fire-spread models help, but briefing crews on the fire line and judgment under pressure stay human.
Classes: Earth science, AP Environmental Science, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1031.
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.