by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation covers Wildland/forest Firefighting And Investigation. A Program Focusing On The Application Of Fire Science, Firefighting And Investigation To The Prevention, Control And Mitigation Of Wildland Fires And The Analysis Of Causes. Includes Instruction In Fire Science And Behavior, Wildland Environments, Meteorology, Wildland Fire Hydraulics And Dynamics, Water And Chemical Supply Systems, Wildland Firefighting Operations, Airborne Firefighting, Firebreak Engineering, Communications Systems, Wildland Arson, Forensic Procedures, Wildland Fire Prevention, Investigation Techniques, Case Management And Preparation. Read on to learn the key facts every wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation programs.
Nationwide, wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation is a widely-pursued major, with 88 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation programs later in this article.
Coursework for Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 16 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 42 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 17 |
People currently working in careers related to wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 33.0% |
| Some college courses | 18.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 13.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | 492,341 | 8.2% |
| Firefighters | 221,721 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,281 |
| 4 years | $64,817 |
| 5 years | $72,249 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $44,909 |
| Firefighters | $31,415 |
With 13 different wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation school rankings to help you.
Students interested in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fire Science/Fire-fighting | 9,863 |
| Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician | 3,350 |
| Fire Services Administration | 1,709 |
| Fire Protection, Other | 70 |
| Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention | 69 |
| Fire Systems Technology | 53 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
