Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Machines can already do 25% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 50%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 25% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 50% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 2,780 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $56,870 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 82% for contact with people.
- Also called: Fire Management Officer, Fire Operations Forester, Fire Prevention Officer, Fire Prevention Technician.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrol assigned areas, looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena | 17% | 27% to 64% | |
| Educate the public about fire safety and prevention | 12% | 26% to 45% | |
| Maintain records and logbooks | 10% | 63% to 81% | |
| Inspect forest tracts and logging areas for fire hazards such as accumulated wastes or mishandling of combustibles, and recommend appropriate fire prevention measures | 9% | 3% to 25% | |
| Administer regulations regarding sanitation, fire prevention, violation corrections, and related forest regulations | 7% | 3% to 25% | |
| Relay messages about emergencies, accidents, locations of crew and personnel, and fire hazard conditions | 6% | 27% to 46% | |
| Conduct wildland firefighting training | 6% | 22% to 42% | |
| Direct crews working on firelines during forest fires | 5% | 9% to 23% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives47% of tasks by 2035 · US median $106,040
- Fish and Game Wardens39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $74,060
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers42% of tasks by 2035 · US median $76,210
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers42% of tasks by 2035 · US median $93,530
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2035. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists?
Machines can do 25% of the tasks of forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists today and 50% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 33-2022.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/forest-fire-inspectors-and-prevention-specialists/