Career Guide

Game Warden in New York — 2026 Career Guide

By WardenTools Research Team · Last updated 2026-06

Game wardens in New York are sworn law enforcement officers who enforce wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural-resource laws under the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement. New York employs the second-most game wardens (390) and ranks in the top 5 for pay at $76,060. Game wardens in New York earn a mean annual wage of $76,060 ($36.57/hour), according to BLS OEWS May 2023 data for SOC 33-3031. That is $15,680 above the national median of $60,380 — a 26% premium for New York wardens. The BLS counts 390 fish and game wardens employed in New York.

New York game warden in uniform patrolling a coastal wildlife area, water setting

Written by the WardenTools Research Team. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2023. Requirements sourced from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement. This is career information — verify current standards with the agency before applying.

New York Game Warden Salary

Game wardens in New York earn a mean annual wage of $76,060 ($36.57/hour), according to BLS OEWS May 2023 data for SOC 33-3031. That is $15,680 above the national median of $60,380 — a 26% premium for New York wardens. The BLS counts 390 fish and game wardens employed in New York. BLS OEWS May 2023: 390 employed, mean $76,060/yr ($36.57/hr) — #2 by employment, top-5 by pay. 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). New York wardens rank among the higher-paying states for this profession. Actual pay depends on experience, rank, and whether the warden is state- or federally-employed.

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

New York Game Warden Requirements

To become a game warden in New York, applicants must meet the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation baseline standards:

Minimum age: 20
Education: Bachelor's degree or 60 credits + 2 years experience
U.S. citizenship: Required
Clean criminal background: Required (felony convictions disqualify)
Valid driver's license: Required

New York employs the second-most game wardens (390) and ranks in the top 5 for pay at $76,060. New York wardens are fully sworn peace officers with arrest authority for wildlife and natural-resource violations statewide. The hiring process includes a written exam, physical agility test, oral interview, thorough background investigation, and medical/psychological evaluation. See our full game warden requirements guide for the universal baseline that applies across all states.

Checklist of New York game warden requirements with agency-specific notes

Verify with the agency: Visit the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement for the official, current requirements before applying.

New York Game Warden Academy & Training

New York game wardens train at the New York State Basic School for Environmental Conservation Officers (26-week residential), completing state peace-officer certification plus agency-specific wildlife enforcement training. The combined academy program typically runs 6 to 12 months and covers criminal law, firearms, defensive tactics, wildlife identification, boat operation, and search-and-rescue. After academy graduation, new wardens complete a supervised field-training period before receiving full sworn commission.

New York game warden academy recruits in training, classroom and field exercises

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

How to Become a Game Warden in New York: 5 Steps

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

Meet the baseline — Confirm U.S. citizenship, age 20, education (Bachelor's degree or 60 credits + 2 years experience), and a clean background for New York.
Complete education or qualifying experience — Bachelor's degree or 60 credits + 2 years experience.
Apply and pass the entrance exams — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation administers a written exam, physical agility test, oral interview, and background investigation.
Graduate from the academy — Complete the New York State Basic School for Environmental Conservation Officers (26-week residential) program.
Field training and sworn commission — Complete supervised patrol before receiving full New York game warden commission.

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

Numbered 5-step infographic for becoming a New York game warden

New York Game Warden FAQ

How much does a game warden make in New York? Game wardens in New York earn a mean annual wage of $76,060 ($36.57/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — above the national median of $60,380.

What are the requirements to be a game warden in New York? Minimum age 20, Bachelor's degree or 60 credits + 2 years experience, U.S. citizenship, a clean criminal record, and a valid driver's license. See the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement for official current standards.

How long does it take to become a game warden in New York? Typically 12 to 24 months from application to sworn commission, including the hiring process (3–6 months), the academy (6–7 months), and field training (3–6 months).

Which agency hires game wardens in New York? The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement. Visit https://www.dec.ny.gov for current openings.

Explore Neighboring States

Compare New York to nearby states: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey. 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
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement: https://www.dec.ny.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 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before applying.