Also called: Air Tanker Pilot, Water Bomber Pilot
Flies big air tankers or helicopters that drop water and fire retardant on wildfires.
Air tanker pilots fly low over burning ridges in smoke and wind, dropping thousands of gallons of red retardant exactly where ground crews need it. Fire season means being on call and moving bases all summer.
Estimate; seasonal contracts with high daily pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 6 years after high school. FAA private and commercial pilot certificates (flight school, about 1-2 years and significant cost; military training is another route) plus thousands of flight hours, often from agricultural or military flying.
Ways in: Certification, Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Aviation, Professional Flight.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Optionally piloted firefighting helicopters are in testing and may fly some night drops by 2036; low-level tanker flying in smoke stays mostly human.
Classes: Physics, Pre-calculus, Earth Science (weather), JROTC.
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.