Game wardens – also called fish and game wardens, wildlife officers, or conservation officers depending on the state – earn a median annual salary of $61,650, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. That median covers state wildlife officers and federal wildlife enforcement positions. The range runs from under $38,000 in the lowest-paying states to over $95,000 at the top of the scale in the highest-paying ones.
This guide breaks down game warden pay by state, experience level, and agency type, with specific coverage of Texas – where the search volume for game warden salary is highest and where pay is among the best in the country.
What Game Wardens Earn: The National Median
The BLS classifies game wardens under SOC code 33-3031 (Fish and Game Wardens). The May 2023 survey puts the median annual wage at $61,650, or roughly $29.64 per hour. Total employment in the category is approximately 8,700 positions nationwide – it is a small field with limited openings and high competition in most states.
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| 25th percentile | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| Median (50th) | $61,650 | $29.64 |
| 75th percentile | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| 90th percentile | $95,580 | $45.95 |
Salary by State
State funding levels for wildlife agencies, collective bargaining agreements, and regional cost of living drive most of the variation in game warden pay. States with large public land systems, active hunting and fishing economies, and strong wildlife agency budgets -Texas, California, Alaska, Washington – tend to pay wardens the most. States with smaller wildlife budgets and limited hunting activity pay the least.
| State | Median Annual Wage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | $95,240 | California Department of Fish and Wildlife; high cost-of-living supplement |
| Alaska | $81,490 | Alaska Wildlife Troopers; remote posting supplement |
| Washington | $75,110 | WDFW enforcement officers |
| Texas | $68,400 | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; see Texas section below |
| Colorado | $63,870 | Colorado Parks and Wildlife |
| National Median | $61,650 | |
| Georgia | $48,290 | Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division |
| Mississippi | $40,760 | Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks |
| West Virginia | $39,480 | WV Division of Natural Resources |
Texas Game Warden Salary
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens are among the most searched and among the best-paid state wildlife officers in the country. Texas has the largest land area of the contiguous states, a massive hunting and fishing economy, and a TPWD warden force of roughly 500 officers covering all 254 counties.
As of the most recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department published pay schedules, newly commissioned wardens begin at a Game Warden I classification, with starting salaries around $64,000 annually. The state provides a vehicle, uniform allowance, and housing subsidy in some remote postings. Experienced wardens at Game Warden III and above – typically those with eight or more years of service – commonly earn $75,000–$85,000. Wardens who move into sergeant and lieutenant supervisory ranks earn above $85,000, with senior captains and the statewide command structure reaching higher.
Texas wardens receive full state employee benefits: the Employees Retirement System of Texas pension, which vests after five years and allows retirement at age 60 with at least 10 years of service, plus health insurance through TexBen and participation in deferred compensation programs.
Federal Wildlife Officers: A Different Pay Scale
Not all game warden-equivalent positions are state jobs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employs special agents and refuge law enforcement officers on federal land, paid on the GS scale with LEAP. These positions carry different titles but do comparable work to state game wardens on federal refuges and public lands.
| Position / Grade | Base Pay (Step 1) | With LEAP (25%) | Est. Total with Locality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refuge Officer, GS-7 entry | $49,025 | $61,281 | ~$72,000 |
| Refuge Officer, GS-9 | $54,914 | $68,643 | ~$80,000 |
| Special Agent, GS-11 | $67,738 | $84,673 | ~$99,000 |
| Special Agent, GS-13 | $99,908 | $124,885 | ~$146,000 |
Federal wildlife positions are more competitive than most state game warden openings and require a bachelor’s degree. They offer the federal benefits package – FERS retirement, TSP matching, FEHB health insurance – which is generally more favorable than most state employee benefit systems.
Salary by Experience Level
Most state game warden pay scales are structured like law enforcement pay scales – fixed grades with step increases based on time in service and performance. Progression is predictable but not fast. The difference between a new warden and a warden with ten years of service is meaningful in dollar terms, but the pace of increase slows after the first several years.
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Recruit / academy (pre-commission) | $38,000 – $52,000 (training salary) |
| Entry (0–3 years commissioned) | $42,000 – $66,000 |
| Mid-career (4–8 years) | $55,000 – $78,000 |
| Experienced (9–15 years) | $65,000 – $88,000 |
| Supervisory (sergeant, lieutenant) | $75,000 – $100,000+ |
Benefits and Total Compensation
Game wardens are sworn law enforcement officers and receive benefits equivalent to other state police positions – not civilian state employee benefits. In most states, this means access to a law enforcement retirement plan with an earlier retirement age than standard public employee pensions, a take-home vehicle or vehicle allowance, uniform and equipment provision, and law enforcement-specific health and disability coverage.
The take-home vehicle benefit is particularly meaningful in rural postings where a warden may be responsible for a large geographic area and commutes from a residence to a patrol zone that could be 30–60 miles of rough terrain. States that provide wardens with a state-owned patrol vehicle effectively add several thousand dollars of annual compensation that doesn’t appear in salary figures. For a full overview of what the game warden career path looks like, see our game warden career guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do game wardens make per hour?
At the national median of $61,650 per year, the hourly equivalent is roughly $29.64 for a standard 2,080-hour work year. In practice, game wardens often work irregular hours including weekends, evenings, and holidays – overtime and on-call availability are common, particularly during hunting and fishing seasons. Some states pay overtime or comp time; others build irregular hours into the overall salary structure.
Is game warden a good career financially?
Relative to the education required – most states require a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science, criminal justice, or a related field – game wardens are paid competitively. The starting salary is below what patrol officers earn in most major cities, but the total compensation picture including pension, vehicle, and benefits is stronger than the base salary suggests. The ceiling is limited compared to federal law enforcement careers, but for officers who want to work outdoors in conservation law enforcement, the career path is financially viable.
What state pays game wardens the most?
California consistently posts the highest median game warden salary – the BLS puts the California median at $95,240, roughly 55% above the national median. Alaska and Washington follow. The high California figure reflects both the state’s cost-of-living adjustments and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s pay scale for its wardens, who are classified as California Fish and Wildlife Wardens and organized under a collective bargaining agreement.
How does game warden pay compare to state trooper pay?
In most states, state troopers earn somewhat more than game wardens, reflecting the broader jurisdiction, higher risk profile, and stronger union presence in most state police organizations. The gap is not uniform – in Texas, game wardens and troopers have comparable pay structures. In states like California, CHP officers out-earn CDFW wardens substantially. See our state trooper career guide for a direct comparison of the two career paths.
