Fish and Game Wardens
SOC code 33-3031 · O*NET-SOC 33-3031.00 · Medium preparation needed · Legal and protective services
Fish and Game Wardens pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$74,060
a year
Hourly
$35.60
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$74,950
$36.03 per hour
Middle 50%
$61,430 – $89,110
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$50,990 – $100,980
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
5,770
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $50,990
- $24.51/hr
- 25th percentile
- $61,430
- $29.53/hr
- Median percentile
- $74,060
- $35.60/hr
- 75th percentile
- $89,110
- $42.84/hr
- 90th percentile
- $100,980
- $48.55/hr
What do fish and game wardens do?
Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Participate in search-and-rescue operations.
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a fish and game wardens earn?
The national median is $74,060 a year. The full range runs from $50,990 at the 10th percentile to $100,980 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a fish and game wardens without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Speaking3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security4.8/5
- Law and Government4.7/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.6/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Telecommunications3.9/5
- Psychology3.8/5
- Geography3.7/5
- Biology3.7/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Systems Analysis.