Fish and Game Wardens Career, Salary and Skills
Fish and Game Wardens have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $74,060 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 5,770. Wage data is published for 48 locations.
Occupation description
Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.
O*NET code
33-3031.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$74,060
Hourly median
$35.60
Employment
5,770
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Writing | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Persuasion | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.12 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- Compile and present evidence for court actions.
- Protect and preserve native wildlife, plants, or ecosystems.
- Patrol assigned areas by car, boat, airplane, horse, or on foot to enforce game, fish, or boating laws or to manage wildlife programs, lakes, or land.
- Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
- Provide assistance to other local law enforcement agencies as required.
- Issue warnings or citations and file reports as necessary.
- Provide advice or information to park or reserve visitors.
- Participate in search-and-rescue operations.
Technology
- Database software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Mapping software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Puppet
- Swift
- Web browser software
Fish and Game Wardens salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in TXMedian $85,980 · Employment 490
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in NYMedian $80,060 · Employment 390
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in CAMedian $100,090 · Employment 330
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in FLMedian $31,200 · Employment 290
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in TNMedian $75,930 · Employment 220
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in MIMedian $87,460 · Employment 210
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in GAMedian $79,440 · Employment 200
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in MEMedian $73,260 · Employment 190
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in NCMedian $61,430 · Employment 190
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in VAMedian $66,540 · Employment 180
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in OKMedian $69,120 · Employment 170
- Fish and Game Wardens Salary in INMedian $93,990 · Employment 170
Related careers
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersNational median $59,320
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersNational median $93,530
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $101,420
- Transit and Railroad PoliceNational median $90,230
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNational median $33,580
- BiologistsNational median $98,920
- ForestersNational median $76,400
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthNational median $82,220
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.