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Fish and Game Wardens in Texas

Thinking about a career as a Fish and Game Wardens in Texas? Here’s what you need to know. Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.

What do Fish and Game Wardens Make in Texas?

For a fish and game wardens working in Texas, the typical annual salary is $81,880 per year (or roughly $39.37/hour).Annual wages span from $52,430 at the 10th percentile to $93,400 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$52,430	$25.21
25th percentile	$75,780	$36.43
Median (50th)	$81,880	$39.37
75th percentile	$85,500	$41.11
90th percentile	$93,400	$44.91

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Texas relative to the national average — is 0.83, indicating fewer fish and game wardens per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, fish and game wardens earn a median of $51,480 per year ($24.75/hour), exceeding the Texas median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 493,397 fish and game wardens in the U.S.. In Texas alone, about 480 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 120 fish and game wardens.

Top Texas Metros for Fish and Game Wardens

The metro areas below employ the most fish and game wardens in Texas.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	30	$81,880

Top States for Fish and Game Wardens Employment

These states have the highest employment of fish and game wardens work.

State	Number Employed
Florida	730
Texas	480
New York	370
Tennessee	360
California	290
Arizona	250
Georgia	210
Virginia	210
Louisiana	180
North Carolina	180
Alabama	170
Missouri	170
Indiana	160
Ohio	140
Maine	140
Nebraska	130
West Virginia	120
Oklahoma	120
Iowa	120
Washington	110

Highest-Paying States for Fish and Game Wardens

These states pay the most for fish and game wardens.

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$115,400
Indiana	$99,990
California	$94,990
Iowa	$92,270
Maryland	$87,180
Nevada	$84,280
Texas	$81,880
North Dakota	$80,220
Ohio	$76,870
Tennessee	$75,930

Skills

The most important fish and game wardens skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for fish and game wardens, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Fish and Game Wardens typically:

• 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.
• Compile and present evidence for court actions.
• Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
• Protect and preserve native wildlife, plants, or ecosystems.
• Issue warnings or citations and file reports as necessary.
• Serve warrants and make arrests.
• Provide assistance to other local law enforcement agencies as required.
• Promote or provide hunter or trapper safety training.
• Participate in search-and-rescue operations.
• Arrange for disposition of fish or game illegally taken or possessed.
• 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.

Work Activities

• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Getting Information
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Related occupations to fish and game wardens include:

• Environmental Compliance Inspectors
• Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
• Biologists
• Conservation Scientists
• Range Managers
• Park Naturalists

Also Known As

Community Resource Officer, Conservation Enforcement Officer, Conservation Officer, District Resource Officer, Environmental Conservation Officer, Fish Warden, Fish and Game Warden, Fish and Wildlife Warden, Fisheries Enforcement Officer, Fishing Game Warden, Game Agent, Game Protector, Game Warden, Game and Fish Protector, Mammal Control Agent.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 33-3031.00