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Game warden: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$74,060median pay per year, or $35.60 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $50,990lowest 10% earn less
  2. $61,43025th percentile
  3. $74,060median
  4. $89,11075th percentile
  5. $100,980top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Game wardens, which BLS calls Fish and Game Wardens, had a median pay of $74,060 a year in May 2025[1]. The number of jobs is projected to fall 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.7%[2]
Openings per year
500[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do game wardens make?

In May 2025, the median wage for Fish and Game Wardens was $74,060 a year, or $35.60 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $74,950 a year, or $36.03 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $50,990 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $61,430[3]. The top-paid 25% earned more than $89,110, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $100,980[3]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $24.51 and the 90th was $48.55[8].

A percentile wage is a boundary line. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 5,770 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[3] $50,990
25th percentile[3] $61,430
Median[1] $74,060
75th percentile[3] $89,110
90th percentile[3] $100,980

Pay by state and city

State pay differs a lot. California had the highest median at $100,090, followed by Iowa at $98,260 and Indiana at $93,990[12]. Florida was last in the list at $31,200[12]. BLS published data for 35 states[12].

Texas had the most jobs at 490, followed by New York at 390 and California at 330[13].

Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the most jobs at 90, with a median of $73,130[14]. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC was next at 80 jobs and a median of $63,060[14].

Show median pay in 35 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$100,090330
Iowa$98,260120
Indiana$93,990170
Nevada$91,75050
Maryland$89,30060
Wisconsin$89,110150
Michigan$87,460210
Texas$85,980490
New York$80,060390
North Dakota$79,52030
Georgia$79,440200
Tennessee$75,930220
Ohio$75,880160
Vermont$74,94040
Alabama$74,290160
Wyoming$74,06070
Maine$73,260190
Idaho$73,200110
New Jersey$72,92090
Arkansas$72,20080
Missouri$70,030150
Hawaii$69,250110
Oklahoma$69,120170
South Dakota$68,810100
Virginia$66,540180
Connecticut$65,40090
Nebraska$63,00070
West Virginia$62,530110
Kansas$61,840100
North Carolina$61,430190
Louisiana$59,940110
Montana$59,49070
Kentucky$54,57070
Pennsylvania$50,25080
Florida$31,200290

How to become a game warden

BLS lists these typical entry points[6]:

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook adds that wardens usually need a bachelor's degree, with wildlife science, biology and natural resources named as useful fields[15]. Federal Wildlife Officers and some state-level wardens typically do not need one[15].

A note on scope: the Handbook profile covers wardens together with other related occupations, so the next details describe the wider group[16]. For that group, entry education can be anything from a high school diploma up to a college degree[17]. Recruits usually finish an agency training academy and then a period of on-the-job training[17]. Candidates usually must be at least 21 years old and meet physical and personal standards[17]. A felony conviction or drug use may disqualify them[17].

O*NET places the job in Job Zone Three, where previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience is required[18].

What game wardens do

O*NET describes the work as patrolling their assigned area to stop people from breaking fish and game laws, looking into reports of wildlife damage to crops or property, and compiling biological data[19]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report titles such as Conservation Officer, Game Warden and State Wildlife Officer[21].

Where they work

No work environment facts cover wardens alone. For the wider police and detective group, 96% worked for government, not counting state and local schools and hospitals[22]. Most in that group work full time, and overtime and shift work are common[23].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,200 to 5,800 jobs, a change of -400[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[24]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

Even so, about 500 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings count jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.4% of workers leave the labor force and 4.8% move to a different occupation[25].

Is it a good fit?

Pay is above the all-occupations median, with a middle range of $61,430 to $89,110[3][4]. The typical entry point is a bachelor's degree and on-the-job training[6]. Jobs are few, and BLS expects the count to shrink, though openings still come up each year[2][5]. State pay varies widely, so the state where you work matters[12]. The task list mixes patrol, investigation and wildlife protection, which may suit people interested in patrol, investigation and wildlife protection work[20].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[26].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a game warden make an hour?
The median wage was $35.60 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $36.03 an hour[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a game warden?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6]. Federal Wildlife Officers and some state-level wardens typically do not need one[15].
Is game warden in demand?
Employment is projected to fall 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][24]. About 500 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for game wardens?
California, with a median annual wage of $100,090 in May 2025[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Fish and Game Wardens in the US was $74,060 per year and $35.60 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Fish and Game Wardens is projected to decline 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,200 to 5,800 jobs (a change of -400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Fish and Game Wardens: 10th percentile $50,990, 25th percentile $61,430, 75th percentile $89,110, 90th percentile $100,980. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Fish and Game Wardens are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Fish and Game Wardens: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Fish and Game Wardens was $74,950 per year and $36.03 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Fish and Game Wardens: 10th percentile $24.51, 25th percentile $29.53, 75th percentile $42.84, 90th percentile $48.55. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,770 people were employed as Fish and Game Wardens in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Fish and Game Wardens in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Fish and Game Wardens jobs: Texas 490; New York 390; California 330; Florida 290; Tennessee 220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Fish and Game Wardens jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 90 (median $73,130); Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 80 (median $63,060); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 60 (median $31,200); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 50 (median $79,440); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 50 (median $87,140); Syracuse, NY 50 (median $56,730). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Police and Detectives" covers Fish and Game Wardens together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. O*NET 33-3031.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of Fish and Game Wardens. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Fish and Game Wardens. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 33-3031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Conservation Enforcement Officer, Conservation Officer, Conservation Warden, Fish and Game Constable, Game Warden, Refuge Officer, State Game Warden, State Wildlife Officer. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of police and detectives in 2025: Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals 96%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  25. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Fish and Game Wardens: 3.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  26. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.