Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in Texas make a median of $85,980 a year, or about $41.34 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $93,977 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 24.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in Texas?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in Texas
Texas sits well above the national pay line for fish and game wardens, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $74K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Texas offers a genuinely strong financial position for fish and game wardenss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Fish and Game Wardens salary by metro in Texas
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $86K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,326/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Texas?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $86K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Texas compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
Texas pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in Texas?
The median is $85,980 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,430, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $98,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,739/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $93,977 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.