Fish and Game Wardens Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for fish and game wardens in the U.S. is $74,060 ($35.60 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $74,060
- Mean annual wage
- $74,950
- Median hourly wage
- $35.60
- Employment
- 5,770
5,770 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,990 | $24.51 |
| 25th percentile | $61,430 | $29.53 |
| Median (50th) | $74,060 | $35.60 |
| 75th percentile | $89,110 | $42.84 |
| 90th percentile | $100,980 | $48.55 |
Highest-paying states for fish and game wardens
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Lowest-paying states
- Florida: $31,200 median annual wage
- Pennsylvania: $50,250 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $54,570 median annual wage
- Montana: $59,490 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $59,940 median annual wage
About this occupation
Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.
Typical tasks
- Promote or provide hunter or trapper safety training.
- 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.
- Participate in search-and-rescue operations.
- Collect and report information on populations or conditions of fish and wildlife in their habitats, availability of game food or cover, or suspected pollution.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 4.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 19.4% |
| Some college, no degree | 25.0% |
| Associate's degree | 11.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 33.3% |
| Master's degree | 5.5% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Security Guards$38,020
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,210
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$58,940
- Firefighters$59,280
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,040
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators$93,790
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$93,530
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.