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Methodology — How WardenTools Researches Game Warden Data

By WardenTools Research Team · Last updated 2026-06

This page documents exactly where our data comes from, how we calculate derived figures, and how often we update. Transparency about sources is our primary trust signal — we are career-information researchers, not licensed professionals, so verifiable sourcing is how we earn reader confidence.

Salary Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

All national and state salary figures on WardenTools come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, specifically for SOC code 33-3031 (Fish and Game Wardens).

Most recent release used: May 2023 (published 2024).

Why this source: The BLS OEWS is the authoritative federal source for occupational wages. BLS data is in the public domain and free to reproduce with attribution per the BLS copyright policy (https://www.bls.gov/bls/copyright.htm). It is the same source used by the U.S. government, academic researchers, and major career websites.

Figures we report directly from BLS:

  • National median annual wage ($60,380) and hourly wage ($29.03)
  • National mean annual wage ($61,120) and hourly wage ($29.38)
  • National employment (6,290 officers)
  • Wage percentiles (10th through 90th)
  • State mean annual and hourly wages (where BLS separately reports them)
  • State employment counts and location quotients

Handling States Without BLS Data

The BLS does not separately report wage data for every state — when a state's game-warden employment is very small, BLS suppresses the figure to protect confidentiality and statistical reliability. As of the May 2023 release, BLS separately reports data for roughly 20 states; the remainder show no figure.

Our policy: When BLS does not report a state's data, we say so explicitly. We write "Not separately reported in BLS OEWS May 2023" and direct readers to the state wildlife agency for current information. We never estimate or infer a suppressed figure. This is an honesty standard — a missing data point is more trustworthy than a fabricated one.

Derived Calculations

Some figures on WardenTools are calculated from BLS source data, not reported directly. These are always labeled as calculations:

  • "National median delta" (used in best-states rankings) — state mean annual wage minus the national median ($60,380). Example: California $89,020 − $60,380 = +$28,640.
  • "Pay-to-cost ratio" — state mean wage adjusted by BEA Regional Price Parities. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area).
  • Best-states ranking — a composite score weighting salary (50%), job availability/employment (30%), and cost-of-living-adjusted pay (20%). This is an editorial ranking, not a BLS figure.

All derived figures clearly state the source inputs and calculation method.

Requirements Data: State Wildlife Agencies

Game warden requirements (age, education, citizenship, academy, physical standards) are drawn directly from official state wildlife agency career pages. Each state's dedicated page (/state/[state]/) names the specific agency and links to its career page.

Why this source: Requirements are set and updated by each state's wildlife agency (e.g., California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Texas Parks and Wildlife). These agency pages are the authoritative source and change periodically as laws and regulations evolve.

Update approach: We review state agency career pages on a regular cycle. However, because requirements change, we always advise readers to verify current standards directly with the agency before applying.

Update Cadence

  • Salary figures: Refreshed annually, shortly after the BLS releases each OEWS update (typically each spring). The "Last updated" date on each page reflects the most recent review.
  • Requirements data: Reviewed regularly; updated when an agency announces a change.
  • Derived rankings: Recalculated whenever underlying source data updates.

What We Do Not Do

For transparency, here is what WardenTools explicitly does not do:

  • We do not fabricate credentials. We do not claim content has been reviewed by a licensed professional (CPA, attorney, MD, or career counselor), because it has not.
  • We do not scrape or aggregate proprietary datasets. All data is public government information.
  • We do not estimate suppressed BLS figures. Missing data is reported as missing.
  • We do not guarantee outcomes. Salary and hiring information reflects published data, not a promise of future earnings or employment.
  • We are not affiliated with any government agency. WardenTools is an independent website.

Source Links

Last updated June 2026. If you believe any figure on WardenTools is inaccurate or outdated, please contact us via our contact page and we will review and correct it.