Career Guide

Game Warden in Missouri — 2026 Career Guide

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

Game wardens in Missouri earn a mean annual wage of $44,880 ($21.58/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — below the national median of $60,380.

By WardenTools · Last updated 2026-06

Game wardens in Missouri are sworn law enforcement officers who enforce wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural-resource laws under the Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division. Missouri conservation agents are unique in requiring a bachelor's degree as a baseline qualification. BLS OEWS May 2023 puts Missouri game-warden pay at a $44,880 mean annual wage ($21.58/hour) for SOC 33-3031 — $15,500 below the $60,380 national midpoint, a 26% discount, across 40 employed wardens. Fieldwork in Missouri centers on Ozark stream and trout-park enforcement behind the profession's strictest bachelor's-degree gate.

Missouri game warden in uniform patrolling a forested Ozark highlands wildlife area

Written by the WardenTools. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2023. Requirements sourced from the Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division. This is career information — verify current standards with the agency before applying.

Missouri Game Warden Salary

Here's how Missouri game warden pay compares. The BLS OEWS May 2023 mean annual wage for SOC 33-3031 is $44,880 ($21.58/hour) across 40 employed wardens — $15,500 below 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). Missouri wardens rank below the U.S. midpoint. Actual pay depends on experience, rank, and whether the warden is state- or federally-employed.

Employment density (computed): 40 of the BLS-counted 6,290 U.S. fish and game wardens work in Missouri — 0.6% 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 Missouri game warden mean wage to the national median and the highest-paying state

Missouri Game Warden Requirements

To become a game warden in Missouri, applicants must meet the Missouri Department of Conservation baseline standards:

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

Missouri wardens are sworn officers whose arrest authority covers wildlife and natural-resource violations statewide under the Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division. The demands of Ozark stream and trout-park enforcement behind the profession's strictest bachelor's-degree gate shape the daily routine. On the credential side, Missouri is one of the few states that mandates a completed bachelor’s degree before you can apply; 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 Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division for the official, current requirements before applying.

Missouri Game Warden Academy & Training

Missouri game wardens train at the Missouri Department of Conservation Agent Training Academy, completing state peace-officer certification plus agency-specific wildlife enforcement training. Training at the Missouri Department of Conservation Agent Training Academy 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 Ozark stream and trout-park enforcement behind the profession's strictest bachelor's-degree gate — before the Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division grants full sworn commission.

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

How to Become a Game Warden in Missouri: 5 Steps

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

Lock in the basics — U.S. citizenship, the minimum age of 21, bachelor's degree required, and a clean record are the entry bar in Missouri.
Satisfy the education or experience requirement — Bachelor's degree required.
Submit your application and clear the exam battery — The Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division stages a written test, physical agility assessment, oral board, and background investigation.
Earn your academy diploma — Finish the Missouri Department of Conservation Agent Training Academy program.
Complete field training, then take the oath — Supervised patrol precedes full Missouri game-warden commission.

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

Missouri Game Warden FAQ

How much does a game warden make in Missouri? Game wardens in Missouri earn a mean annual wage of $44,880 ($21.58/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — below the national median of $60,380.

What are the requirements to be a game warden in Missouri? Minimum age 21, Bachelor's degree required, U.S. citizenship, a clean criminal record, and a valid driver's license. See the Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division for official current standards.

How long does it take to become a game warden in Missouri? 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) — plus whatever time it takes to finish the required bachelor’s degree first. Timelines shift with academy class scheduling.

Which agency hires game wardens in Missouri? The Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division. Visit https://mdc.mo.gov for current openings.

Explore Neighboring States

Compare Missouri to nearby states: Kansas, Illinois, Arkansas. 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
Missouri Department of Conservation, Protection Division: https://mdc.mo.gov
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 Missouri Department of Conservation before applying.