Also called: BAER Team Member, Post-Fire Hydrologist
Rushes in as a wildfire ends to predict floods and mudslides from the burned slopes and plan emergency fixes before the rains.
BAER teams of hydrologists, soil scientists and engineers hike burned mountains, test how badly soil was scorched, and model where debris flows could hit towns and roads. Within about a week they recommend emergency work like log barriers, clearing culverts, or warning systems. Then they move to the next fire.
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 hydrology, soil science, geology, or forestry; master's common.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Hydrology, Soil Science, Geology, Forestry.
Growing about average. Wildland fire seasons are getting longer; federal wildland workforce is being reorganized (approx.).
Low risk for 10 years. Satellite burn maps and flood models help; field checks and emergency decisions stay human.
Classes: Earth science, Chemistry, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2043.
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.