Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in Maryland make a median of $89,300 a year, or about $42.94 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $90,421 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 32% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maryland. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $89K get you in Maryland?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for fish and game wardens, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $74K. Rent runs $1,795/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $20K 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 Maryland numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 32.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,860/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Maryland?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $89K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
Maryland pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in Maryland?
The median is $89,300 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,000, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $100,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 32.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a fish and game wardens salary go in Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $90,421 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.