How many fish and game wardens are in California
David Ramirez
Published Apr 22, 2026
Wardens patrol the state of California and 200 miles (320 km) off the coast. As of 2014, about 380 wardens patrolled the state.
How many game wardens are employed in California?
StateEmployment (1)Annual mean wage (2)California350$ 88,150New Jersey(8)$ 85,010Illinois170$ 79,730Washington110$ 77,330
What state has the most game wardens?
The states with the highest number of wildlife officers include Texas, at 460, followed closely by New York, at 400, North Carolina, at 370, and California, at 350.
Are there game wardens in California?
California’s game wardens, also known as wildlife officers, bear this responsibility 24 hours a day all year long. From enforcing wildlife laws to ensuring recreation in the outdoors is safe, the state’s game wardens use the latest technology and methodology to get the job done right.How many federal game wardens are there?
There are only 7,000 game wardens, state and federal, for the entire country.
What guns do California game wardens carry?
As a result the wardens are better armed than the average police officer. For example, in California, every game warden is issued two pistols, a shotgun, and a . 308 rifle, a larger caliber than the standard police-issue rifle as wardens may have to shoot through brush. They are also trained in martial arts.
How much do California game wardens make?
The average salary for a fish and game warden in California is around $79,780 per year.
How long does it take to become a game warden?
A federal game warden is required to complete 44 weeks of field training and evaluations, which will include working alongside experienced conservation officers. During field training, game wardens sharpen their skills in investigation and conservation laws.Where is the California game warden academy?
The Academy has been located at Butte College since 2008 and provides peace officer academy training to California’s prospective wildlife officers. That partnership provided CDFW a state-of-the-art POST-certified academy facility with nearly 50 years of police training history.
How much does fish and game make in California?California Fish and Game Wardens take home a great salary while pursuing a fulfilling career protecting fish and game of his or her state. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average California Fish and Wildlife Officer makes a median salary of $72,630 per year.
Article first time published onWhat are game warden ranks?
Game Warden I (1 year) $4,131/month. Game Warden II (4 years) $4,749/month. Game Warden III (8 years) $5,098/month. Game Warden IV (12 years) $5,333/month.
How much do Texas game wardens make per year?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average game warden in the state of Texas makes a median salary of $64,920 per year.
What college is best for game warden?
- Oregon State University. Oregon State University in Corvallis offers as Bachelor of Science in fisheries and wildlife sciences. …
- SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology. …
- Montana State University. …
- Michigan State University.
What's the difference between a federal game warden and a state game warden?
State game wardens are employed through each state’s fish, parks and wildlife department, while federal game wardens are employed as special agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a federal agency within the Department of the Interior.
Are game wardens federal employees?
Where Does a Game Warden Work? A select group of game wardens work as Federal Wildlife Officers and Special Agents for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service where they police federally protected lands and investigate crimes related to poaching and natural resource theft.
Is a game warden a good career?
Being a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Wildlife Officer is a great career. … Wildlife Officers provide the public with hunting and fishing information and protect California’s diverse resources from poaching and overuse.
What education do you need to be a game warden in California?
Education. High school diploma, GED, or California High School Proficiency Examination; Equivalent to completion of two years (60 semester units) of college with 18 semester units in the biological sciences, police science or law enforcement, natural resources conservation, ecology or related fields.
Are game wardens happy?
Fish and game wardens are one of the happiest careers in the United States. … As it turns out, fish and game wardens rate their career happiness 3.8 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 18% of careers.
What's the difference between DNR and conservation officer?
should know that these professionals go by many different titles. Specifically, a DNR officer is a conservation officer who works for the Department of Natural Resources, but other names include fish and game warden, wildlife conservation officer, district wildlife manager, and fisheries enforcement officer.
What model Glock is a 40 caliber?
By far the most popular police service pistol in the United States, the GLOCK 22 fires the potent 40 S&W cartridge and holds more rounds for its size and weight than most other full-sized handgun in its class.
How long is the Game Warden Academy in California?
The Academy is approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Cadets spend approximately 31 weeks in the Academy acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to prepare them for the various duties required of Wardens.
How much do game wardens make?
The BLS reports that fish and game wardens earned an average annual salary of $57,710 as of 2018. The top 10% earned an average annual salary of $80,140. There were approximately 6,040 fish and game wardens working in the US in 2018, with the majority (5,260) employed in state government.
How much does a game warden make in Montana?
Game wardens in Montana earn an average annual salary of between $44,000 and $56,000.
What are the disadvantages of being a game warden?
- Tough Work. Game warden requirements include high levels of physical fitness. …
- Exposure to the Elements. …
- Risky Business. …
- Animal Instincts. …
- Salaries Below Most Other LEOs.
What skills do you need to be a game warden?
- Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
- Understand spoken information.
- Listen to others and ask questions.
- Read and understand work-related materials.
- Understand written information.
- Write clearly so other people can understand.
How much does a Cdcr warden make?
The salary trajectory of an Associate Warden ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $42,606 per year and goes up to $41,663 per year for the highest level of seniority.
How much do conservation officers make in California?
How much does a Conservation Officer make in California? The average Conservation Officer salary in California is $53,180 as of November 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $42,760 and $66,296.
How much does a Washington State game warden make?
Washington Game Warden Salary According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average game warden in the state of Washington can make a median salary of $55,780 per year.
How many Texas game wardens have been killed?
Since 1919, 17th Texas game wardens have lost their lives in the line of duty, five by drowning. Patterson was a graduate of the 51 Texas Game Warden Academy in 2005 and had been stationed in Johnson County. He is survived by his parents, Viann and Joe Patterson of Seguin, Texas.
How much do game wardens make in Louisiana?
How much does a Game Warden make in Louisiana? While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $125,769 and as low as $15,092, the majority of Game Warden salaries currently range between $26,068 (25th percentile) to $92,383 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $112,964 annually in Louisiana.
How long is the Texas Game Warden Academy?
The academy is approximately 30 weeks in length and includes courses in fish, wildlife and natural resource management; physical training; first aid; water rescue; boat operations; defensive tactics; use of firearms; driver training; civil defense training; homeland security; law enforcement curriculum and tactics.