Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in North Dakota make a median of $79,520 a year, or about $38.23 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $89,459 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $80K get you in North Dakota?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Fish and game wardens pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $74K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 19.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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 Dakota
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $42K 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 Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 19.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,686/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is fish and game warden a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $74K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
North Dakota pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in North Dakota?
The median is $79,520 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,430, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $103,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,232/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 19.8% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $89,459 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.