Also called: Wildfire Smoke Forecaster, Smoke Outlook Specialist
Joins wildfire teams to forecast where smoke will go and warn towns, schools and health officials when the air will be unsafe.
Air resource advisors set up portable air monitors in nearby towns, run smoke models, and write daily 'smoke outlooks' that tell people when to stay inside. They brief fire managers and public health officials and answer questions at community meetings. The program draws air quality scientists from many agencies.
Federal GS pay, 2026 estimate.
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 atmospheric science, environmental science, or chemistry.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, Chemistry.
Growing about average. Wildland fire seasons are getting longer; federal wildland workforce is being reorganized (approx.).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Smoke models and AI forecasts get better; local judgment and talking with communities stay human.
Classes: Chemistry, Earth science, AP Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2041.
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.