Career Guide

Game Warden in Maine — 2026 Career Guide

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

Game wardens in Maine earn a mean annual wage of $64,640 ($31.08/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — above the national median of $60,380.

By WardenTools · Last updated 2026-06

Game wardens in Maine are sworn law enforcement officers who enforce wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural-resource laws under the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service. Maine's warden service, founded in 1880, is one of the oldest wildlife law enforcement agencies in the US. BLS OEWS May 2023 puts Maine game-warden pay at a $64,640 mean annual wage ($31.08/hour) for SOC 33-3031 — $4,260 above the $60,380 national midpoint, a 7% premium, across 150 employed wardens. Fieldwork in Maine centers on north-woods warden service patrols (est. 1880) over the nation's highest warden concentration (LQ 5.85).

Maine game warden in uniform patrolling a coastal wildlife area along the rocky Atlantic shore, water setting

Written by the WardenTools. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2023. Requirements sourced from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service. This is career information — verify current standards with the agency before applying.

Maine Game Warden Salary

Here's how Maine game warden pay compares. The BLS OEWS May 2023 mean annual wage for SOC 33-3031 is $64,640 ($31.08/hour) across 150 employed wardens — $4,260 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). Maine 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): 150 of the BLS-counted 6,290 U.S. fish and game wardens work in Maine — 2.4% of the national total. BLS also reports a location quotient of 5.85 for Maine — meaning the warden occupation is 5.8× more concentrated here than the national average. Source: BLS OEWS May 2023, SOC 33-3031; share computed by WardenTools from published state and national employment counts.

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

Maine Game Warden Requirements

To become a game warden in Maine, applicants must meet the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife baseline standards:

Minimum age: 21
Education: High school diploma + 60 college credits or 2 years military
U.S. citizenship: Required
Clean criminal background: Required (felony convictions disqualify)
Valid driver's license: Required

Maine wardens are sworn officers whose arrest authority covers wildlife and natural-resource violations statewide under the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service. The demands of north-woods warden service patrols (est. 1880) over the nation's highest warden concentration (LQ 5.85) shape the daily routine. On the credential side, applicants must clear the state’s education bar — high school diploma + 60 college credits or 2 years military — 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 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service for the official, current requirements before applying.

Maine Game Warden Academy & Training

Maine game wardens train at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA), completing state peace-officer certification plus agency-specific wildlife enforcement training. Training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) 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 north-woods warden service patrols (est. 1880) over the nation's highest warden concentration (LQ 5.85) — before the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service grants full sworn commission.

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

How to Become a Game Warden in Maine: 5 Steps

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

Lock in the basics — U.S. citizenship, the minimum age of 21, high school diploma + 60 college credits or 2 years military, and a clean record are the entry bar in Maine.
Satisfy the education or experience requirement — High school diploma + 60 college credits or 2 years military.
Submit your application and clear the exam battery — The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service stages a written test, physical agility assessment, oral board, and background investigation.
Earn your academy diploma — Finish the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) program.
Complete field training, then take the oath — Supervised patrol precedes full Maine game-warden commission.

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

Maine Game Warden FAQ

How much does a game warden make in Maine? Game wardens in Maine earn a mean annual wage of $64,640 ($31.08/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — above the national median of $60,380.

What are the requirements to be a game warden in Maine? Minimum age 21, High school diploma + 60 college credits or 2 years military, U.S. citizenship, a clean criminal record, and a valid driver's license. See the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service for official current standards.

How long does it take to become a game warden in Maine? 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 Maine? The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service. Visit https://www.maine.gov/ifw for current openings.

Explore Neighboring States

Compare Maine to nearby states: New Hampshire, Vermont. 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
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Warden Service: https://www.maine.gov/ifw
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 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife before applying.