Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in North Carolina make a median of $61,430 a year, or about $29.53 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $66,296 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 31.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $61K get you in North Carolina?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for fish and game wardens in North Carolina runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $74K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $72K 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 North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 31.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,134/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $61K here vs. $74K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
North Carolina pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in North Carolina?
The median is $61,430 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,240, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $72,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,053/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 31.7% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $66,296 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.