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Salary comparison

Fish and Game Wardens vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: Who Earns More?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers out-earn Fish and Game Wardens by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Fish and Game Wardens land at $74,060 and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers at $76,210. The education gap is real: fish and game warden programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while police and sheriff's patrol officer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Fish and Game Wardens is California ($100,090); for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers it's California ($118,880).

Fish and Game Wardens
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Median salary
$74,060
$76,210
Hourly rate
$35.6/hr
$36.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$50,990
$47,510
Senior level (90th %)
$100,980
$115,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
5,770
670,520
Job growth (10-year)
-6%
3.1%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
California
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Fish and Game Wardens median pay.

State
Fish and Game Wardens
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
California
$100,090
$118,880
Iowa
$98,260
$74,470
Nevada
$91,750
$78,140
Maryland
$89,300
$77,970
Wisconsin
$89,110
$78,090
Texas
$85,980
$75,900
New York
$80,060
$92,790
North Dakota
$79,520
$74,500
Ohio
$75,880
$77,020
New Jersey
$72,920
$92,610
Hawaii
$69,250
$83,820
Connecticut
$65,400
$82,170
Nebraska
$63,000
$74,620
Pennsylvania
$50,250
$85,470
Florida
$31,200
$74,470

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Fish and Game Wardens or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn more nationally. The median is $74,060 for Fish and Game Wardens versus $76,210 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Fish and Game Wardens or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers has the better 10-year outlook at 3.1% projected growth, compared to -6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Fish and Game Wardens or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Fish and Game Wardens typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Fish and Game Wardens get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Fish and Game Wardens at $100,090/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Fish and Game Wardens vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Fish and Game Wardens earn $100,090 vs. $118,880 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Fish and Game Wardens salary breakdownView →Full Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Fish and Game Wardens by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by take-home payExplore →How to become a fish and game wardensGuide →How to become a police and sheriff's patrol officersGuide →