Working title

Forestry Fire Pilot

Monthly salary

$7948.00 - $10488.00

Job Code #

JC-514450

Position #

542-111-1046-571

Deadline

05/08/2026

External Link

Apply Now

Job Description and Duties A new examination for this classification will be released soon but all interested applicants, regardless of eligibility, will need to apply to this Job Control.

For questions related to the duties of the position, please contact Battalion Chief Owen Head by phone at (707) 798-7773 or by email at owen.head@fire.ca.gov.

This position is located at the Kneeland Helitack Base in Kneeland, CA.You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. Equal Opportunity Employer The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants. Equal Opportunity Employer The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

This classification is eligible for the following pay:

$7948 - $10488 Base Salary (paid every month)

$2701 - $3564 Extended Duty Week Compensation (paid every 4 weeks)

$130,489 – $172,188 Annual Compensation

Employees in the classification are eligible for Pay Differential 506 and shall receive the incentives based on their helicopter pilot qualifications and/or Cal FIRE helicopter program responsibilities. These incentives shall be cumulative, depending on the qualifications and program responsibilities of the employee, the total of which shall not exceed 15% of base pay.

 

RATE

10% of base salary - S-70i Firehawk Helicopter and Night Flying Qualified

2.5% of base salary - Unit Instructor Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Flight Examiner

2.5% of base salary - Helicopter Instructor Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Maintenance Test Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Chief Pilot

 

This differential shall be considered compensation for the purposes of retirement contributions.

 

The State shall pay an Educational Incentive Pay (EIP) of $150 per pay period to all permanent employees in this classification who have completed 60 units from an accredited community college, college, or university. EIP shall be eliminated upon movement to a classification not designated R08.


In addition to the above pay items, employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and may be eligible for other pay differentials.

Benefits Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

This classification is eligible for the following pay:

$7948 - $10488 Base Salary (paid every month)

$2701 - $3564 Extended Duty Week Compensation (paid every 4 weeks)

$130,489 – $172,188 Annual Compensation

Employees in the classification are eligible for Pay Differential 506 and shall receive the incentives based on their helicopter pilot qualifications and/or Cal FIRE helicopter program responsibilities. These incentives shall be cumulative, depending on the qualifications and program responsibilities of the employee, the total of which shall not exceed 15% of base pay.

 

RATE

10% of base salary - S-70i Firehawk Helicopter and Night Flying Qualified

2.5% of base salary - Unit Instructor Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Flight Examiner

2.5% of base salary - Helicopter Instructor Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Maintenance Test Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Chief Pilot

 

This differential shall be considered compensation for the purposes of retirement contributions.

 

The State shall pay an Educational Incentive Pay (EIP) of $150 per pay period to all permanent employees in this classification who have completed 60 units from an accredited community college, college, or university. EIP shall be eliminated upon movement to a classification not designated R08.


In addition to the above pay items, employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and may be eligible for other pay differentials.

Job Application Package Checklist

Duty Statement

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.