Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$77,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$8,500
11.2% of base
Total target cash
$86,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$5,00050th$8,50075th$14,000
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Fish and Game Wardens is a professional role within the function in the Protective Service job family.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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.
Compile and present evidence for court actions.
Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
Protect and preserve native wildlife, plants, or ecosystems.
Issue warnings or citations and file reports as necessary.
Top skills:Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingSocial Perceptiveness
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Fish and Game Wardens pay by experience level
Entry level$53,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$63,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$76,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$92,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$104,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
500
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Fish and Game Wardens salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
5,770 workers
$77,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
5,450 workers
$78,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
320 workers
$62,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
Compile and present evidence for court actions.
Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
Protect and preserve native wildlife, plants, or ecosystems.
Issue warnings or citations and file reports as necessary.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Fish and Game Wardens pays 10% above the average across 28 roles in the Protective Service job family (family average $70,500).
Need Fish and Game Wardens pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
