How much do Fish and Game Wardens make?
Fish and Game Wardens earn a median annual salary of $74,060 in the United States, which works out to roughly $35.61 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $50,990 at the entry level and $100,980 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $61,430 and $89,110 a year.
That is $12,670 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Fish and Game Wardens salary range by percentile
Half of all Fish and Game Wardens earn between $61,430 and $89,110 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,990 | $24.51 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $61,430 | $29.53 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $74,060 | $35.61 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $89,110 | $42.84 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,980 | $48.55 |
Highest-paying states for Fish and Game Wardens
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Fish and Game Wardens pay at $100,090 a year, followed by Iowa ($98,260) and Indiana ($93,990). At the other end, Florida posts the lowest median at $31,200 — a gap of $68,890 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $100,090 | $48.12 | +35% |
| 2 | Iowa | $98,260 | $47.24 | +33% |
| 3 | Indiana | $93,990 | $45.19 | +27% |
| 4 | Nevada | $91,750 | $44.11 | +24% |
| 5 | Maryland | $89,300 | $42.93 | +21% |
Fish and Game Wardens salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 35 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 6,000 people work as Fish and Game Wardens in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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