Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Fish and game wardens focus on protecting wildlife and enforcing related laws and regulations. This career combines physical work with problem solving, customer service, and strong interpersonal interaction. Nationally, the median annual salary is $68,180, with employment of about 7,000 workers. The role calls for a mix of science knowledge, attention to detail, and mechanical ability, along with speaking and listening skills to interact effectively with the public and other professionals. Physical strength and stamina are also key parts of the job profile. The typical entry path requires a bachelor’s degree, making this a professional career that blends education with field-based work. Although projected national employment growth is -6.0%, opportunity can vary by state and metro area, with some locations offering higher salaries and distinct opportunity scores. For people considering related paths, similar occupations include forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists, athletic trainers, first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers, detectives and criminal investigators, and police and sheriff’s patrol officers.
Fish and game wardens earn a national median annual salary of $68,180. Pay varies significantly across states. Among the top states by opportunity score, California reports a median salary of $100,090 and Maryland $89,300, both well above the national median. Texas and New York also offer higher pay levels, at $85,980 and $80,060 respectively, while Virginia’s median of $66,540 sits close to the national figure. At the metro level, salaries also range widely. The Washington–Arlington–Alexandria metro shows a median of $89,300, and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim reports $87,140. The New York–Newark–Jersey City metro lists $73,130, with Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington and Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell at $76,290 and $79,440. These figures indicate that earnings potential can be notably higher in certain states and metro areas compared with the national median.
National employment for fish and game wardens is 7,000, with a projected growth rate of -6.0%. Annual openings are listed as 0, which signals very limited anticipated hiring movement in the aggregate data. The negative projected growth suggests that the total number of positions is expected to decline over the projection period. This makes the overall outlook cautious from a strictly numerical perspective. However, opportunity is not uniform across the country. Some states and metro areas still show defined opportunity scores, indicating that regional labor markets may differ from the national picture. Because the occupation has a specific focus and relatively small overall employment, changes of even a modest number of positions can influence percentage growth figures. Anyone considering this path should pay particular attention to regional patterns in employment and opportunity scores rather than relying only on the national outlook.
Location plays a major role in opportunities for fish and game wardens. Among states, California holds the highest opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $100,090 and employment of 330. New York has a similar employment level at 390 and an opportunity score of 65.78, with a median salary of $80,060. Texas has the largest listed employment at 490 and an opportunity score of 51.57, along with a median salary of $85,980. Virginia and Maryland show smaller employment levels—180 and 60 respectively—but still notable opportunity scores of 54.96 and 52.88, with Maryland offering a median salary of $89,300. At the metro level, New York–Newark–Jersey City stands out with the highest opportunity score of 77.27. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim also provide strong combinations of salary and opportunity scores, while Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington and Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell offer additional regional choices for this occupation.
The typical education requirement for fish and game wardens is a bachelor’s degree, placing this role among careers that require substantial postsecondary preparation. This educational background supports the broad skill set associated with the occupation. Key skills include customer service and interpersonal abilities, which are important for interacting with the public and other stakeholders. Problem solving and decision making, along with adaptability and creativity and innovation, are central for handling varied and sometimes complex situations. The inclusion of science as a top skill highlights the need for comfort with scientific concepts. Detail orientation and strong speaking and listening skills are also important components of effective performance. Physical strength and stamina are essential, reflecting the physically demanding aspects of the work, and mechanical skills round out the profile. Together, the bachelor’s degree requirement and this diverse skill set suggest a career that blends academic preparation with practical, field-oriented capabilities.
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