Forest Service Positions

The U.S. Forest Service offers many opportunities each year in Montana, Idaho, and the greater Northern Rockies region. Students and community members can explore careers in forestry, wildlife, recreation, trails, fire, fisheries, engineering, archaeology, range, customer service, and more.

Most federal jobs are posted on USAJOBS.gov. The sections below focus on how to search for Forest Service positions in Montana and Idaho and where to find reliable, up-to-date information.

How to Search Forest Service Jobs on USAJOBS

You can narrow your search to Montana, Idaho, and nearby communities using filters on USAJOBS.

  • Open the USAJOBS website.
  • In the main search field, enter Forest Service.
  • In the location field, enter Montana, Idaho, or local towns eg: Dillon, Hamilton, Missoula, Kalispell, Salmon, or McCall.
  • Use the filters to refine results by:
    • Hiring Path (Students, Recent Graduates, The Public),
    • Pay Grade (for example GS-3 through GS-12),
    • Work Schedule (seasonal, full-time, or part-time).
  • Select a position to review the duties, qualifications, “Who may apply,” and the application steps.

Creating a free USAJOBS account allows you to save searches related to Montana and Idaho Forest Service careers and receive email alerts when new jobs are posted.

Local & Regional Forest Service Areas

The Northern Rockies region includes several national forests where UMW students frequently work or intern:

  • Beaverhead–Deerlodge National Forest
  • Bitterroot National Forest
  • Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest
  • Flathead National Forest
  • Lolo National Forest
  • Idaho Panhandle National Forests
  • Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests
  • Salmon–Challis National Forest
  • Caribou–Targhee National Forest

For an overview of hiring across this region, visit the Forest Service Northern Region careers page: Forest Service Region 1 Careers.

Student Pathways Programs

The Forest Service Pathways Programs offer paid opportunities for students and recent graduates, with many placements in Montana and Idaho.

Paid Internships

The Pathways Internship Program provides paid work experience while you are in school. Common majors include environmental science, forestry, wildlife biology, recreation management, fisheries, range, engineering, and education or outreach.

Internships may be available in Dillon, Wisdom, Butte, Hamilton, Missoula, Kalispell, Salmon, and McCall.

More information is available on the official Forest Service site: Forest Service Pathways Internships.

Recent Graduate Positions

Recent Graduate positions are one-year developmental roles for individuals who completed a degree within the last two years. Many of these positions are announced on USAJOBS and may convert to permanent roles in Forest Service offices across Montana and Idaho.

For details about eligibility and how these positions work, visit the students and recent graduates section on USAJOBS: Student and Recent Graduate Hiring Paths.

Seasonal & Temporary Jobs

Each year, the Forest Service hires seasonal and temporary employees for fieldwork and visitor-focused positions across Montana and Idaho.

  • Trails and recreation crews
  • Wildland fire and fuels
  • Wildlife and fisheries field crews
  • Range and plant ecology teams
  • Visitor information and customer service
  • Maintenance and engineering support

Seasonal hiring typically begins in late fall and continues into early spring for the following summer season.

To learn more about these opportunities, visit the Forest Service seasonal employment information: Seasonal and Temporary Forest Service Jobs.

Outreach Notices (Early Job Alerts)

The Forest Service Outreach Database lists potential openings before they are formally posted on USAJOBS. Outreach notices provide locations and contact information for hiring managers.

Review these notices to learn about upcoming opportunities in areas such as fire, wildlife, fisheries, recreation, engineering, range, and administrative support. You can respond to an outreach notice to express interest and ask questions about a position.

Access early announcements here: Forest Service Outreach Database.

Recruitment Events & Job Fairs

The Forest Service hosts hiring events and job fairs throughout the year. These events may be virtual or in-person and can include résumé help, application guidance, and information specific to Montana, Idaho, and the Northern Rockies.

For a list of upcoming recruitment events, visit: Forest Service Recruitment Events.

Explore Forest Service Career Paths

Students can explore different Forest Service career paths and duty locations using interactive tools provided by the agency. These tools highlight common job series, career progression, and how different roles support the Forest Service mission.

To learn more about long-term career possibilities, start with the Forest Service career map and overview: Forest Service Career Map and Forest Service Careers Overview.

Support for UMW Students

Forest Service applications often require a federal-style résumé that clearly lists duties, hours per week, and detailed experience. This format is different from a typical one-page résumé.

UMW Career Services can assist you with:

  • Preparing a federal résumé for Forest Service positions,
  • Understanding GS pay grades and hiring paths,
  • Navigating USAJOBS and saved searches,
  • Planning a strategy for seasonal, internship, and permanent roles in Montana and Idaho.