Career Guide

Game Warden in Georgia — 2026 Career Guide

Q: How much does a game warden make in Georgia?

Game wardens in Georgia earn a mean annual wage of $68,610 ($32.98/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — above the national median of $60,380.

By WardenTools · Last updated 2026-06

Game wardens in Georgia are sworn law enforcement officers who enforce wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural-resource laws under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division. Georgia DNR game wardens cover game management areas across all 159 counties. BLS OEWS May 2023 puts Georgia game-warden pay at a $68,610 mean annual wage ($32.98/hour) for SOC 33-3031 — $8,230 above the $60,380 national midpoint, a 14% premium, across 50 employed wardens. Fieldwork in Georgia centers on game-management-area enforcement spanning all 159 counties under DNR state-law jurisdiction.

Georgia game warden in uniform patrolling a coastal wildlife area along the Atlantic coast, water setting

Written by the WardenTools. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2023. Requirements sourced from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division. This is career information — verify current standards with the agency before applying.

Georgia Game Warden Salary

Here's how Georgia game warden pay compares. The BLS OEWS May 2023 mean annual wage for SOC 33-3031 is $68,610 ($32.98/hour) across 50 employed wardens — $8,230 above the national median. For the full national ranking, see game warden salary by state.

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). Georgia wardens rank above the U.S. midpoint. Actual pay depends on experience, rank, and whether the warden is state- or federally-employed.

Employment density (computed): 50 of the BLS-counted 6,290 U.S. fish and game wardens work in Georgia — 0.8% of the national total. That share ranks in the mid-to-lower state warden workforces nationally. Source: BLS OEWS May 2023, SOC 33-3031; share computed by WardenTools from published state and national employment counts.

Bar chart comparing Georgia game warden mean wage to the national median and the highest-paying state

Georgia Game Warden Requirements

To become a game warden in Georgia, applicants must meet the Georgia Department of Natural Resources baseline standards:

Minimum age: 21
Education: High school diploma + bachelor's preferred
U.S. citizenship: Required
Clean criminal background: Required (felony convictions disqualify)
Valid driver's license: Required

Georgia wardens are sworn officers whose arrest authority covers wildlife and natural-resource violations statewide under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division. The demands of game-management-area enforcement spanning all 159 counties under DNR state-law jurisdiction shape the daily routine. On the credential side, applicants must clear the state’s education bar — high school diploma + bachelor's preferred — 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 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division for the official, current requirements before applying.

Georgia Game Warden Academy & Training

Georgia game wardens train at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC / POST certified), completing state peace-officer certification plus agency-specific wildlife enforcement training. Training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC / POST certified) spans approximately 22-36 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 game-management-area enforcement spanning all 159 counties under DNR state-law jurisdiction — before the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division grants full sworn commission.

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

How to Become a Game Warden in Georgia: 5 Steps

The path to becoming a Georgia game warden follows five core steps:

Lock in the basics — U.S. citizenship, the minimum age of 21, high school diploma + bachelor's preferred, and a clean record are the entry bar in Georgia.
Satisfy the education or experience requirement — High school diploma + bachelor's preferred.
Submit your application and clear the exam battery — The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division stages a written test, physical agility assessment, oral board, and background investigation.
Earn your academy diploma — Finish the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC / POST certified) program.
Complete field training, then take the oath — Supervised patrol precedes full Georgia game-warden commission.

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

Georgia Game Warden FAQ

How much does a game warden make in Georgia? Game wardens in Georgia earn a mean annual wage of $68,610 ($32.98/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — above the national median of $60,380.

What are the requirements to be a game warden in Georgia? Minimum age 21, High school diploma + bachelor's preferred, U.S. citizenship, a clean criminal record, and a valid driver's license. See the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division for official current standards.

How long does it take to become a game warden in Georgia? Expect about 12 to 24 months end-to-end — hiring and testing (3–6 months), the academy (approximately 22-36 weeks), then field training (3–6 months). Timelines shift with academy class scheduling.

Which agency hires game wardens in Georgia? The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division. Visit https://gadnrle.org for current openings.

Explore Neighboring States

Compare Georgia to nearby states: Florida, Alabama, Tennessee. Or browse the full state directory for all 50 states plus DC.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2023, Fish and Game Wardens (SOC 33-3031): https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes333031.htm
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division: https://gadnrle.org
BLS copyright/attribution policy: https://www.bls.gov/bls/copyright.htm

Last updated June 2026. Disclaimer: This is career information compiled from public government sources, not professional counseling. Salary data reflects BLS OEWS May 2023. Verify all current requirements with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources before applying.