Game Warden salary: $74,060 median, and how to negotiate yours.
The full pay range by percentile, every state, the top-paying metro areas and similar roles, from the latest BLS survey. Place your own offer on the range.
Hourly pay, BLS May 2025: 10th percentile $24.51 · 25th $29.53 · median $35.60 · 75th $42.84 · 90th $48.55.
The median annual wage for fish and game wardens in the United States was $74,060 in May 2025 (BLS). The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $50,990 and the top 10% earned more than $100,980. That median is 1.5 times the $50,980 median for all occupations. The highest-paying state was California ($100,090).
Data Government data groups this job as Fish and Game Wardens (O*NET-SOC 33-3031.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.
- 10th percentile
- $50,990
- lowest-paid 10% earn less
- 25th percentile
- $61,430
- a quarter earn less
- 75th percentile
- $89,110
- a quarter earn more
- 90th percentile
- $100,980
- top 10% earn more
More on game warden pay
The median hourly wage for fish and game wardens in the United States was $35.60 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
The middle half of fish and game wardens in the United States earned between $61,430 and $89,110 a year in May 2025 (25th to 75th percentile, BLS).
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
The lowest-paid 10% of fish and game wardens in the United States earned less than $50,990 a year in May 2025, and the top 10% more than $100,980 (BLS).
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
The mean annual wage for fish and game wardens in the United States was $74,950 in May 2025, according to BLS; the mean is a different measure from the median.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS estimated that 5,770 people were employed as fish and game wardens in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Game Warden salary in every state
Data BLS state estimates, May 2025. 35 states and DC published a median for this occupation. Sort by pay or by number employed.
- California$100,090
- Iowa$98,260
- Indiana$93,990
- Nevada$91,750
- Maryland$89,300
- Texas490
- New York390
- California330
- Florida290
- Tennessee220
| State | 10th–90th percentile | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $100,090 | $69,710–$116,330 | 330 |
| Iowa | $98,260 | $63,400–$98,260 | 120 |
| Indiana | $93,990 | $65,990–$111,990 | 170 |
| Nevada | $91,750 | $64,040–$110,200 | 50 |
| Maryland | $89,300 | $81,000–$100,980 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $89,110 | $61,530–$89,110 | 150 |
| Michigan | $87,460 | $69,390–$99,440 | 210 |
| Texas | $85,980 | $55,430–$98,070 | 490 |
| New York | $80,060 | $66,190–$96,050 | 390 |
| North Dakota | $79,520 | $61,430–$103,250 | 30 |
| Georgia | $79,440 | $59,470–$93,930 | 200 |
| Tennessee | $75,930 | $63,690–$95,050 | 220 |
| Ohio | $75,880 | $56,620–$100,710 | 160 |
| Vermont | $74,940 | $55,710–$86,810 | 40 |
| Alabama | $74,290 | $44,450–$88,510 | 160 |
| Wyoming | $74,060 | $50,150–$77,960 | 70 |
| Maine | $73,260 | $57,080–$79,330 | 190 |
| Idaho | $73,200 | $55,370–$96,660 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $72,920 | $44,450–$114,320 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $72,200 | $51,000–$90,360 | 80 |
| Missouri | $70,030 | $52,890–$76,170 | 150 |
| Hawaii | $69,250 | $60,670–$101,300 | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $69,120 | $53,060–$88,590 | 170 |
| South Dakota | $68,810 | $37,170–$84,860 | 100 |
| Virginia | $66,540 | $56,700–$83,550 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $65,400 | $55,280–$76,920 | 90 |
| Nebraska | $63,000 | $55,040–$83,930 | 70 |
| West Virginia | $62,530 | $60,540–$75,430 | 110 |
| Kansas | $61,840 | $53,410–$78,920 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $61,430 | $52,240–$72,390 | 190 |
| Louisiana | $59,940 | $40,470–$85,960 | 110 |
| Montana | $59,490 | $56,030–$73,550 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $54,570 | $54,570–$64,860 | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,250 | $46,780–$71,430 | 80 |
| Florida | $31,200 | $31,200–$36,980 | 290 |
How the pay compares
Data National medians for related occupations (O*NET related roles, BLS pay).
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How this page is built
Wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates for May 2025 (national, state and metropolitan area), for the occupation shown. OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay: they include base pay, commissions, production bonuses and tips, and exclude overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits. Percentiles describe all workers in the occupation, not entry or senior levels.
- Pay at a specific employer, or for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
- Experience level: percentiles are not seniority bands.
- Equity, bonuses outside OEWS's definition, and benefits.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
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