Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in Montana make a median of $59,490 a year, or about $28.6 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $61,330 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in Montana?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for fish and game wardens in Montana runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $74K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) 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, Montana
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $18K 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 Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,362/month. At HUD’s $1,129/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 Montana?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $59K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
Montana pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in Montana?
The median is $59,490 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,030, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $73,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,953/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 28.6% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $61,330 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.