# Fish and Game Wardens

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fish-and-game-wardens
- SOC code: 33-3031.00
- Career family: Protective service
- Median annual pay: $74,060 (10th percentile $50,990, 90th percentile $100,980)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.7%
- Openings a year: 500
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 90 |
| Investigative (I) | 49 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 23 |
| Enterprising (E) | 34 |
| Conventional (C) | 54 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 87/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 81/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 81/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 77/100)
- Processing Information (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness, Systems Analysis, Writing

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, Law and Government, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Telecommunications, Psychology, Geography, Biology, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources

## Also called

Conservation Enforcement Officer, Conservation Officer, Conservation Warden, Environmental Conservation Officer, Fish and Game Constable, Fish and Wildlife Warden, Fish Warden, Fishing Game Warden, Game Agent, Game and Fish Protector

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-bakersfield-364) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | not reported | $82,315 | not reported |
| [West Virginia University Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/west-virginia-university-main-campus-3219) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $59,962 | $75,022 | $22,313 |
| [University of Rhode Island URI](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-rhode-island-uri-3025) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $53,168 | $72,311 | $19,500 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $50,871 | $68,965 | $15,083 |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-state-university-1677) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $54,195 | $68,913 | $20,000 |
| [SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-college-of-environmental-science-and-forestry-2648) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $49,930 | $65,604 | $20,250 |
| [Everglades University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/everglades-university-930) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $49,184 | $61,850 | $41,044 |
| [Marist College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marist-college-1597) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | not reported | $58,610 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Range Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/range-managers): $73,010 median pay
- [Animal Control Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-control-workers): $45,660 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Forest and Conservation Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-technicians): $54,560 median pay
- [Forest and Conservation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-workers): $43,680 median pay
- [Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-fire-inspectors-and-prevention-specialists): $56,870 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.