Also called: IRIN, Fire Infrared Mapping Specialist
Works overnight turning heat images taken from planes into the maps that show exactly where a wildfire burned and where it is hottest.
Around midnight, infrared planes fly over big fires and send down heat images. Interpreters study them, trace the fire's edge and hot spots in GIS, and deliver maps before the morning briefing when crews get their assignments. Many work remotely from home or an office far from the fire.
Federal or state pay plus overtime during fire season. 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 GIS, forestry, or geography plus wildland fire qualifications.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: GIS, Geography, Forestry, Remote Sensing.
Growing about average. Wildland fire seasons are getting longer; federal wildland workforce is being reorganized (approx.).
Medium risk for 10 years. AI is learning to auto-map fire edges from heat images; people still check and finalize maps.
Classes: Earth science, Computer science, Geography.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4099.
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.