Fish and game wardens salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,990 | $24.51 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $74,060 | $35.60 |
| Mean (average) | $74,950 | $36.03 |
| 90th percentile | $100,980 | $48.55 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Fish and game wardens pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 36 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $74,290 | $44,450 | $88,510 | 160 | 1.99 |
| Arkansas | $72,200 | $51,000 | $90,360 | 80 | 1.59 |
| California | $100,090 | $69,710 | $116,330 | 330 | 0.49 |
| Connecticut | $65,400 | $55,280 | $76,920 | 90 | 1.47 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 60 | 3.5 | ||
| Florida | $31,200 | $31,200 | $36,980 | 290 | 0.79 |
| Georgia | $79,440 | $59,470 | $93,930 | 200 | 1.08 |
| Hawaii | $69,250 | $60,670 | $101,300 | 110 | 4.89 |
| Idaho | $73,200 | $55,370 | $96,660 | 110 | 3.49 |
| Indiana | $93,990 | $65,990 | $111,990 | 170 | 1.42 |
| Iowa | $98,260 | $63,400 | $98,260 | 120 | 2.12 |
| Kansas | $61,840 | $53,410 | $78,920 | 100 | 1.84 |
| Kentucky | $54,570 | $54,570 | $64,860 | 70 | 0.88 |
| Louisiana | $59,940 | $40,470 | $85,960 | 110 | 1.58 |
| Maine | $73,260 | $57,080 | $79,330 | 190 | 7.89 |
| Maryland | $89,300 | $81,000 | $100,980 | 60 | 0.61 |
| Michigan | $87,460 | $69,390 | $99,440 | 210 | 1.27 |
| Missouri | $70,030 | $52,890 | $76,170 | 150 | 1.41 |
| Montana | $59,490 | $56,030 | $73,550 | 70 | 3.79 |
| Nebraska | $63,000 | $55,040 | $83,930 | 70 | 1.79 |
| Nevada | $91,750 | $64,040 | $110,200 | 50 | 0.85 |
| New Jersey | $72,920 | $44,450 | $114,320 | 90 | 0.58 |
| New York | $80,060 | $66,190 | $96,050 | 390 | 1.08 |
| North Carolina | $61,430 | $52,240 | $72,390 | 190 | 1.04 |
| North Dakota | $79,520 | $61,430 | $103,250 | 30 | 2.2 |
| Ohio | $75,880 | $56,620 | $100,710 | 160 | 0.78 |
| Oklahoma | $69,120 | $53,060 | $88,590 | 170 | 2.61 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,250 | $46,780 | $71,430 | 80 | 0.34 |
| South Dakota | $68,810 | $37,170 | $84,860 | 100 | 5.67 |
| Tennessee | $75,930 | $63,690 | $95,050 | 220 | 1.77 |
| Texas | $85,980 | $55,430 | $98,070 | 490 | 0.94 |
| Vermont | $74,940 | $55,710 | $86,810 | 40 | 3.55 |
| Virginia | $66,540 | $56,700 | $83,550 | 180 | 1.2 |
| West Virginia | $62,530 | $60,540 | $75,430 | 110 | 4.26 |
| Wisconsin | $89,110 | $61,530 | $89,110 | 150 | 1.42 |
| Wyoming | $74,060 | $50,150 | $77,960 | 70 | 6.91 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for fish and game wardens
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for fish and game wardens
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Participate in search-and-rescue operations.
- Compile and present evidence for court actions.
- Protect and preserve native wildlife, plants, or ecosystems.
- Patrol assigned areas by car, boat, airplane, horse, or on foot to enforce game, fish, or boating laws or to manage wildlife programs, lakes, or land.
- Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
- Provide assistance to other local law enforcement agencies as required.
- Issue warnings or citations and file reports as necessary.
- Provide advice or information to park or reserve visitors.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Puppet (hot technology)
- Swift (hot technology)
- Database software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Mapping software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Systems Analysis, Coordination, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Conservation Enforcement Officer, Conservation Officer, Conservation Warden, Fish and Game Constable, Game Warden, Refuge Officer, State Game Warden, State Wildlife Officer, Wildlife Conservation Officer, Wildlife Officer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fish and game wardens make?
The national median annual wage for fish and game wardens was $74,060 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $50,990 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $100,980. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do fish and game wardens need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is fish and game wardens a growing career?
BLS projects employment of fish and game wardens to change -5.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay fish and game wardens the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($100,090), Iowa ($98,260), Indiana ($93,990). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.