Fish & Game Warden earn $74,060 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $61,430 and $89,110. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.
Also known as:
Fish & Game Warden earn $74,060 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,430 and $89,110. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Above the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Fish & Game Warden roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
The BLS projects -6.0% employment change for Fish & Game Warden through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 500 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Declining employment projected.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Fish & Game Warden professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $74,060 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 730 | $32,760 | -55.8% |
| 2 | Texas | 480 | $81,880 | +10.6% |
| 3 | New York | 370 | $75,820 | +2.4% |
| 4 | Tennessee | 360 | $75,930 | +2.5% |
| 5 | California | 290 | $94,990 | +28.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Fish & Game Warden positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 3,147 | $56,185 | 185 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 91 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| 3 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | 89 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
| 4 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD | 88 | $15,678 | $82,860 |
| 5 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | 88 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| 6 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | 88 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
Once you've sized up Fish & Game Warden, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Fish & Game Warden pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Fish & Game Warden has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 1 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
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