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Game Warden in District of Columbia — 2026 Career Guide

By WardenTools · Last updated 2026-06

Game wardens in District of Columbia are sworn law enforcement officers who enforce wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural-resource laws under the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police. In DC, wildlife and natural resource law enforcement is primarily a federal function under US Park Police. The May 2023 OEWS omits District of Columbia's game-warden wages — the BLS withholds state-level figures for small occupational cells to protect statistical reliability, and we will not guess at the suppressed value. Active pay scales live on the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police recruitment page. District of Columbia's enforcement footprint is distinctive: Potomac and Anacostia river patrols led federally by US Park Police officers. Nationally, the median stands at $60,380 among 6,290 wardens.

District of Columbia game warden in uniform patrolling an urban wildlife area along the Potomac River
District of Columbia game warden in uniform patrolling an urban wildlife area along the Potomac River

Written by the WardenTools. BLS does not separately report District of Columbia wage data; verify with the state agency. Requirements sourced from the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police. This is career information — verify current standards with the agency before applying.

District of Columbia Game Warden Salary

The BLS does not separately report District of Columbia game-warden wages in the May 2023 OEWS release. Verify current pay with the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police, and see our salary by state page for states with reported data.

For comparison, the national mean wage across all 6,290 U.S. fish and game wardens is $61,120, and the national median is $60,380 (BLS OEWS May 2023). District of Columbia wardens should verify current pay ranges with the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police, as the BLS does not separately report the state’s data. Actual pay depends on experience, rank, and whether the warden is state- or federally-employed.

Related: Game warden salary overview · Best states for game wardens

District of Columbia Game Warden Requirements

To become a game warden in District of Columbia, applicants must meet the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police baseline standards:

  • Minimum age: 21
  • Education: Bachelor's degree (federal)
  • U.S. citizenship: Required
  • Clean criminal background: Required (felony convictions disqualify)
  • Valid driver's license: Required

District of Columbia wardens are sworn officers whose arrest authority covers wildlife and natural-resource violations statewide under the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police. The demands of Potomac and Anacostia river patrols led federally by US Park Police officers shape the daily routine. On the credential side, applicants must clear the state’s education bar — bachelor's degree (federal) — before testing begins; the hiring gauntlet combines a written exam, physical agility test, oral board interview, fingerprint-based background check, and medical/psychological evaluation. See our full game warden requirements guide for the universal baseline that applies across all states.

Verify with the agency: Visit the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police for the official, current requirements before applying.

District of Columbia Game Warden Academy & Training

District of Columbia game wardens train at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) for federal officers, completing state peace-officer certification plus agency-specific wildlife enforcement training. Training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) for federal officers spans approximately 18 weeks, blending criminal-law classroom work with firearms, defensive tactics, wildlife identification, boat handling, and field rescue drills. New officers then finish a supervised field-training stretch — much of it shaped by Potomac and Anacostia river patrols led federally by US Park Police officers — before the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police grants full sworn commission.

Compare District of Columbia's academy to other states in our game warden academy guide, which details timelines and curricula nationwide.

How to Become a Game Warden in District of Columbia: 5 Steps

The path to becoming a District of Columbia game warden follows five core steps:

  1. Lock in the basics — U.S. citizenship, the minimum age of 21, bachelor's degree (federal), and a clean record are the entry bar in District of Columbia.
  2. Satisfy the education or experience requirement — Bachelor's degree (federal).
  3. Submit your application and clear the exam battery — The DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police stages a written test, physical agility assessment, oral board, and background investigation.
  4. Earn your academy diploma — Finish the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) for federal officers program.
  5. Complete field training, then take the oath — Supervised patrol precedes full District of Columbia game-warden commission.

For the full nationwide walkthrough, see our how to become a game warden guide.

District of Columbia Game Warden FAQ

How much does a game warden make in District of Columbia? The BLS does not separately report District of Columbia wage data. Verify current pay with the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police, and see our salary by state page for states with reported data.

What are the requirements to be a game warden in District of Columbia? Minimum age 21, Bachelor's degree (federal), U.S. citizenship, a clean criminal record, and a valid driver's license. See the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police for official current standards.

How long does it take to become a game warden in District of Columbia? Expect about 12 to 24 months end-to-end — hiring and testing (3–6 months), the academy (approximately 18 weeks), then field training (3–6 months). Timelines shift with academy class scheduling.

Which agency hires game wardens in District of Columbia? The DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police. Visit https://doee.dc.gov for current openings.

Explore Neighboring States

Compare District of Columbia to nearby states: Maryland, Virginia. Or browse the full state directory for all 50 states plus DC.

Sources

Last updated June 2026. Disclaimer: This is career information compiled from public government sources, not professional counseling. BLS does not separately report District of Columbia wage data; verify with the state agency. Verify all current requirements with the DC Department of Energy and Environment / US Park Police before applying.