Fish and Game Wardens salary in the U.S.
Fish and Game Wardens in the U.S. earn a median of $74,060 a year ($35.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,980 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $74,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fish and game wardens in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,990 | $24.51 |
| 25th percentile | $61,430 | $29.53 |
| Median | $74,060 | $35.60 |
| 75th percentile | $89,110 | $42.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,980 | $48.55 |
| Average (mean) | $74,950 | $36.03 |
Half of fish and game wardens earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,171.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,085.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,848.46 |
| Weekly | $1,424.23 |
| Hourly | $35.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fish and Game Wardens salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $100,090 | 330 |
| Iowa | $98,260 | 120 |
| Indiana | $93,990 | 170 |
| Nevada | $91,750 | 50 |
| Maryland | $89,300 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $89,110 | 150 |
| Michigan | $87,460 | 210 |
| Texas | $85,980 | 490 |
| New York | $80,060 | 390 |
| North Dakota | $79,520 | 30 |
| Georgia | $79,440 | 200 |
| Tennessee | $75,930 | 220 |
| Ohio | $75,880 | 160 |
| Vermont | $74,940 | 40 |
| Alabama | $74,290 | 160 |
| Wyoming | $74,060 | 70 |
| Maine | $73,260 | 190 |
| Idaho | $73,200 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $72,920 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $72,200 | 80 |
| Missouri | $70,030 | 150 |
| Hawaii | $69,250 | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $69,120 | 170 |
| South Dakota | $68,810 | 100 |
| Virginia | $66,540 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $65,400 | 90 |
| Nebraska | $63,000 | 70 |
| West Virginia | $62,530 | 110 |
| Kansas | $61,840 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $61,430 | 190 |
| Louisiana | $59,940 | 110 |
| Montana | $59,490 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $54,570 | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,250 | 80 |
| Florida | $31,200 | 290 |
Best-paying metro areas for fish and game wardens
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $105,780 | 40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $89,300 | 40 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $89,110 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $87,140 | 50 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $85,980 | 40 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $81,490 | 30 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $79,440 | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $76,290 | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $75,990 | 30 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $73,130 | 90 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $63,060 | 80 |
| Syracuse, NY | $56,730 | 50 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $31,200 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most fish and game wardens
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 90 | $73,130 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 80 | $63,060 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 60 | $31,200 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 50 | $79,440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 50 | $87,140 |
| Syracuse, NY | 50 | $56,730 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 40 | $85,980 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 40 | $76,290 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 40 | $105,780 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 40 | $89,300 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 30 | $89,110 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 30 | $75,990 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 30 | $81,490 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| Bailiff | $56,600 | $27.21 |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $90,230 | $43.38 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $44.96 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $55,940 | $26.90 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fish and game wardens make in the U.S.?
The median salary for fish and game wardens in the U.S. is $74,060 a year, or $35.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fish and game wardens make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of fish and game wardens in the U.S. earn at least $100,980 a year. The top 25% earn $89,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for fish and game wardens in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,990 a year, and a quarter of fish and game wardens earn $61,430 or less.
How many fish and game wardens work in the U.S.?
About 5,770 fish and game wardens are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.