Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in Tennessee make a median of $75,930 a year, or about $36.51 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $84,573 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Tennessee?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Fish and game wardens pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $74K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Fish and Game Wardens salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $81K | +7% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track fish and game wardens salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,821/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $74K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
Tennessee pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in Tennessee?
The median is $75,930 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,690, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $95,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,150/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 23.6% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $84,573 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.