Kentucky · SOC 33-3031

Fish and Game Wardens in Kentucky

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Kentucky; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$54,570

per year in this state

26% below

National Median

$74,060

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$26.24/hr

median hourly

Employment

70

jobs in KY

Salary Range in Kentucky

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$54,570
25th$54,570
Median$54,570
75th$59,040
90th$64,860

What This Means for Fish and Game Wardens in Kentucky

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Kentucky ranks #33 of 35 states and territories for Fish and Game Wardens pay, the bottom 7% nationally. Fish and Game Wardens working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $54,570, which is 26% below the national median of $74,060. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $54,570 at the 10th percentile to $64,860 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Fish and Game Wardens labor market inside Kentucky using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $54,570 ($26.24/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 70 workers in this SOC code (33-3031). Relative to the national median of $74,060, the state estimate is 26% below. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Kentucky, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $54,570, the 25th earns $54,570, the 75th reaches $59,040, and the 90th hits $64,860. The upper boundary is roughly 1.2× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Kentucky where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in Kentucky

Similar Occupations in Kentucky

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Fish and Game Wardens pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Kentucky. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 33-3031. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Fish and Game Wardens make in Kentucky?
The median annual salary for Fish and Game Wardens in Kentucky is $54,570 (26% below national avg). Pay ranges from $54,570 (10th percentile) to $64,860 (90th percentile).
How many Fish and Game Wardens work in Kentucky?
There are approximately 70 Fish and Game Wardens employed in Kentucky, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Fish and Game Wardens in Kentucky?
The median hourly wage for Fish and Game Wardens in Kentucky is $26.24/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Kentucky.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Kentucky figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.