After extreme fire seasons in 2020 and 2021, Congress funded a temporary bonus that boosted average U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter pay by either 50% or US$20,000, whichever was lower. But that increase expires after Sept. 30, knocking many federal firefighters back to earning the minimum $15 per hour…
The National Federation of Federal Employees warns that a large number of firefighters could quit if their pay also drops.
$15/ hour to do that job?! Insanity to cut their pay.
Wildland firefighters face a huge pay cut without action by Congress