Fish and Game Wardens Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for fish and game wardens is $74,060, or $35.60 per hour. About 5,770 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $100,090 in California to $31,200 in Florida.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 35 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $100,090 | $48.12 | 330 | 0.49 |
| 2 | Iowa | $98,260 | $47.24 | 120 | 2.12 |
| 3 | Indiana | $93,990 | $45.19 | 170 | 1.42 |
| 4 | Nevada | $91,750 | $44.11 | 50 | 0.85 |
| 5 | Maryland | $89,300 | $42.94 | 60 | 0.61 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $89,110 | $42.84 | 150 | 1.42 |
| 7 | Michigan | $87,460 | $42.05 | 210 | 1.27 |
| 8 | Texas | $85,980 | $41.34 | 490 | 0.94 |
| 9 | New York | $80,060 | $38.49 | 390 | 1.08 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $79,520 | $38.23 | 30 | 2.20 |
| 11 | Georgia | $79,440 | $38.19 | 200 | 1.08 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $75,930 | $36.51 | 220 | 1.77 |
| 13 | Ohio | $75,880 | $36.48 | 160 | 0.78 |
| 14 | Vermont | $74,940 | $36.03 | 40 | 3.55 |
| 15 | Alabama | $74,290 | $35.71 | 160 | 1.99 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $74,060 | $35.60 | 70 | 6.91 |
| 17 | Maine | $73,260 | $35.22 | 190 | 7.89 |
| 18 | Idaho | $73,200 | $35.19 | 110 | 3.49 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $72,920 | $35.06 | 90 | 0.58 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $72,200 | $34.71 | 80 | 1.59 |
| 21 | Missouri | $70,030 | $33.67 | 150 | 1.41 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $69,250 | $33.29 | 110 | 4.89 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $69,120 | $33.23 | 170 | 2.61 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $68,810 | $33.08 | 100 | 5.67 |
| 25 | Virginia | $66,540 | $31.99 | 180 | 1.20 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $65,400 | $31.44 | 90 | 1.47 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $63,000 | $30.29 | 70 | 1.79 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $62,530 | $30.06 | 110 | 4.26 |
| 29 | Kansas | $61,840 | $29.73 | 100 | 1.84 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $61,430 | $29.53 | 190 | 1.04 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $59,940 | $28.82 | 110 | 1.58 |
| 32 | Montana | $59,490 | $28.60 | 70 | 3.79 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $54,570 | $26.24 | 70 | 0.88 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $50,250 | $24.16 | 80 | 0.34 |
| 35 | Florida | $31,200 | $15.00 | 290 | 0.79 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fish and game wardens make?
The median annual wage for fish and game wardens in the United States is $74,060, or $35.60 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $50,990, and the top 10% earn $100,980.
How many fish and game wardens are employed in the U.S.?
About 5,770 people work as fish and game wardens nationwide.
Which state pays fish and game wardens the most?
California pays the most at a median of $100,090, followed by Iowa ($98,260) and Indiana ($93,990).
Which state pays fish and game wardens the least?
Florida has the lowest median at $31,200.
Where are fish and game wardens jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Maine at 7.89×.