Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in Idaho make a median of $73,200 a year, or about $35.19 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $77,972 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 23.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Idaho. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $73K get you in Idaho?
About fish and game wardens
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Idaho
Fish and game wardens pay in Idaho tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $74K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track fish and game wardens salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,322/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fish and game warden a high-paying job in Idaho?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $74K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
Idaho pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in Idaho?
The median is $73,200 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,370, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $96,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,725/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 24% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a fish and game wardens salary go in Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fish and game wardens salary is worth about $77,972 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fish and game wardens get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.