Home / Career Explorer / Protective Services

Fish and Game Wardens

	Median Wage (USD, 2025)	Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)	Projected Growth (2025-2035)
National Statistics	$74060	500	-5.7%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$74060

Median Wage (USD, 2025)

500

Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)

-5.7%

Projected Growth (2025-2035)

Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
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.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Detailed Work Activities

Prepare investigation or incident reports.
Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
Investigate accidents to determine causes.
Issue warnings or citations.
Apprehend criminal suspects.
Serve court ordered documents.
Rescue people from hazardous situations.
Arrange delivery of goods or services.
Confiscate prohibited or dangerous items.
Perform forest firefighting activities.
Patrol natural areas to ensure safety or enforce regulations.
Protect wildlife or natural areas.
Provide safety training.
Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to respond to incidents.
Inform the public about policies, services or procedures.
Inspect operational processes.
Record information about environmental conditions.
Observe individuals' activities to gather information or compile evidence.
Issue permits or other legal documents.
Maintain facilities.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
Serve warrants and make arrests.
Arrange for disposition of fish or game illegally taken or possessed.
Promote or provide hunter or trapper safety training.
Seize equipment used in fish and game law violations.
Address schools, civic groups, sporting clubs, or the media to disseminate information concerning wildlife conservation and regulations.
Recommend revisions in hunting and trapping regulations or in animal management programs so that wildlife balances or habitats can be maintained.
Issue licenses, permits, or other documentation.
Inspect commercial operations relating to fish or wildlife, recreation, or protected areas.
Design or implement control measures to prevent or counteract damage caused by wildlife or people.
Collect and report information on populations or conditions of fish and wildlife in their habitats, availability of game food or cover, or suspected pollution.
Investigate crop, property, or habitat damage or destruction or instances of water pollution to determine causes and to advise property owners of preventive measures.
Perform facilities maintenance work, such as constructing or repairing structures or controlling weeds or pests.
Survey areas and compile figures of bag counts of hunters to determine the effectiveness of control measures.
Document the extent of crop, property, or habitat damage and make financial loss estimates or compensation recommendations.
Participate in firefighting efforts.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired