Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in Michigan make a median of $87,460 a year, or about $42.05 an hour. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $93,152 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $87K get you in Michigan?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in Michigan
Michigan sits well above the national pay line for fish and game wardens, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $74K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 23.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Michigan offers a genuinely strong financial position for fish and game wardenss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $30K 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 Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 23.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,163/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Michigan?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $87K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
Michigan pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in Michigan?
The median is $87,460 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,390, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $99,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,516/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 23.1% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $93,152 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.