Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in Indiana make a median of $93,990 a year, or about $45.19 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $102,374 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $94K get you in Indiana?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in Indiana
Indiana sits well above the national pay line for fish and game wardens, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $74K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 19.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Indiana offers a genuinely strong financial position for fish and game wardenss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Fish and Game Wardens salary by metro in Indiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $76K | -19% | 30 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 19.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,959/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is fish and game warden a high-paying job in Indiana?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $94K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
Indiana pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in Indiana?
The median is $93,990 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,990, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $111,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,970/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 19.2% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $102,374 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.