Fish and Game Wardens Salary
Fish and Game Wardens in Wisconsin make a median of $89,110 a year, or about $42.84 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $94,466 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wisconsin. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $89K get you in Wisconsin?
About fish and game wardens
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for fish and game wardens, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $74K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Wisconsin offers a genuinely strong financial position for fish and game wardenss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level fish and game wardens (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $28K 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 Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fish and game warden afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fish and game wardens in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fish and game wardens typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,692/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $89K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for fish and game wardens?
Wisconsin pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fish and game wardens make in Wisconsin?
The median is $89,110 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,530, and experienced fish and game wardens can clear $89,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,617/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 21.4% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $94,466 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.