SMOKEJUMPERS and HOT SHOT FIRE CREWS

These folks work for the federal government, a state or national forest, or sometimes a private company, fighting wildfires. The usual starting wage is around $10 hour for a guaranteed 40 hours a week, and overtime pay to boot! For a lot of crews, the only requirements are being over 18, being able to do the physical work, and being willing to learn.

It's a good deal for someone who is looking for a physically-challenging adventure-type job that offers good pay and covers housing costs. BETTER THAN THE MILITARY because you usually only commit to a year or less (and if you really do hate it, you can just quit & not have it ruin your life), plus it's great experience if you are thinking about a career in firefighting. It's not just for guys either -- we learned about this job from a woman who was on a Hot Shot crew in California before she moved to Denver.