Fish and Game Wardens · California

Fish and Game Wardens Salary in California

Fish and Game Wardens in California earn a median annual wage of $100,090 —35.1% above the national median of $74,060. That ranks CA #1 of 35 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$100,090
Median hourly
$48.12
Entry level (P10)
$69,710
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$116,330
90th percentile
Employment
330
0.0 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+35.1%
U.S. $74,060

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$69,710
$74,790
$100,090
$110,780
$69,710$100,090$116,330
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $100,090.

Employment is only 0.49× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for fish and game wardens

All 35 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$100,090$48.123300.49
2Iowa$98,260$47.241202.12
3Indiana$93,990$45.191701.42
4Nevada$91,750$44.11500.85
5Maryland$89,300$42.94600.61
6Wisconsin$89,110$42.841501.42
7Michigan$87,460$42.052101.27
8Texas$85,980$41.344900.94
9New York$80,060$38.493901.08
10North Dakota$79,520$38.23302.20

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do fish and game wardens make in California?

The median annual wage for fish and game wardens in California is $100,090, or $48.12 per hour. That is 35.1% above the national median of $74,060.

What is the entry-level fish and game wardens salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $69,710 per year ($33.52/hour). The 25th percentile is $74,790.

How many people work as fish and game wardens in California?

About 330 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for fish and game wardens?

California ranks #1 of 35 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.49x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Which state pays fish and game wardens the most?

California has the highest median wage at $100,090 per year, followed by Iowa ($98,260) and Indiana ($93,990).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes