Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Protective Service Occupations · 5.8K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$74,060
Median hourly
$36
Average annual
$74,950
Typical range
$50,990–$100,980
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Fish and Game Wardens is $74,060 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $36 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife.
Most earn between $50,990 and $100,980 a year. There are roughly 5.8K people employed as fish and game wardens in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Fish and Game Wardens.
- Hourly
- $35.61
- Daily
- $285
- Weekly
- $1,424
- Bi-weekly
- $2,848
- Monthly
- $6,172
- Annual
- $74,060
$74,060 a year is around the 50th percentile for Fish and Game Wardenss. The median is $74,060.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$105,780
- 2Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$89,300
- 3Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$89,110
- 4Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$87,140
- 5Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$85,980
- 6Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$81,490
- 7Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$79,440
- 8Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$76,290
- 9Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$75,990
- 10New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$73,130
- 11Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$63,060
- 12Syracuse, NY$56,730
Related job titles
Employers advertise Fish and Game Wardens roles under these titles.
- Community Resource Officer
- Conservation Enforcement Officer
- District Resource Officer
- Environmental Conservation Officer
- Fish and Game Warden
- Fish and Wildlife Warden
- Fish Warden
- Fisheries Enforcement Officer
- Fishing Game Warden
- Game Agent
- Game and Fish Protector
- Game Protector
- Game Warden
- Mammal Control Agent
- Park Guard
- Park Warden
Related occupations
- Conservation Scientists$73,010
- Forest and Conservation Technicians$54,560
- Forest and Conservation Workers$43,680
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists$56,870
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220
- Compliance Officers$80,730
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,210
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$76,780
What a Fish and Game Wardens does
- 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.
- Compile and present evidence for court actions.
- Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
- Issue warnings or citations and file reports as necessary.
- Serve warrants and make arrests.
- Provide assistance to other local law enforcement agencies as required.
- Promote or provide hunter or trapper safety training.
- Participate in search-and-rescue operations.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fish and Game Wardens make?
- The median annual wage for Fish and Game Wardens is $74,060 ($36 per hour). Pay ranges from about $50,990 at the 10th percentile to $100,980 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Fish and Game Wardens?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $74,950, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Fish and Game Wardenss the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $100,090.
- Is Fish and Game Wardens a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 5.8K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Fish and Game Wardens do?
- 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.; Compile and present evidence for court actions.; Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations..