Fish and Game Wardens Salary
The median fish and game wardens salary in the United States is $74,060 per year ($35.60/hour). Salaries range from $50,990 at the entry level to $100,980+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 5,770 fish and game wardens jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 6% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$74,060
per year
Hourly Rate
$35.60
per hour
Employment
5,770
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$50,990
25th percentile
$61,430
Median
$74,060
75th percentile
$89,110
90th percentile
$100,980
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-6%
Decline
Annual Openings
500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Fish and Game Wardens Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$31K$100K■ No data
Top Paying States
California
$100K
+35%
Iowa
$98K
+33%
Indiana
$94K
+27%
Nevada
$92K
+24%
Maryland
$89K
+21%
Wisconsin
$89K
+20%
Michigan
$87K
+18%
Texas
$86K
+16%
New York
$80K
+8%
North Dakota
$80K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $100,090 | +35.1% |
| Iowa | $98,260 | +32.7% |
| Indiana | $93,990 | +26.9% |
| Nevada | $91,750 | +23.9% |
| Maryland | $89,300 | +20.6% |
| Wisconsin | $89,110 | +20.3% |
| Michigan | $87,460 | +18.1% |
| Texas | $85,980 | +16.1% |
| New York | $80,060 | +8.1% |
| North Dakota | $79,520 | +7.4% |
Showing 1–10 of 35
Fish and Game Wardens Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $105,780 | +42.8% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $89,300 | +20.6% |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $89,110 | +20.3% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $87,140 | +17.7% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $85,980 | +16.1% |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $81,490 | +10.0% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $79,440 | +7.3% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $76,290 | +3.0% |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $75,990 | +2.6% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $73,130 | -1.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 13
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A fish and game wardens earning $74,060/year would need 805 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 864 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how fish and game wardens salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Fish and Game Wardens salary trend (2011–2024) →