Career Guide

Game Warden in New York — 2026 Career Guide

Q: 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.

By WardenTools · 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. BLS OEWS May 2023 puts New York game-warden pay at a $76,060 mean annual wage ($36.57/hour) for SOC 33-3031 — $15,680 above the $60,380 national midpoint, a 26% premium, across 390 employed wardens. Fieldwork in New York centers on Adirondack and Catskill backcountry patrols at the nation's second-largest warden force (390 officers).

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

Written by the WardenTools. 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

Here's how New York game warden pay compares. The BLS OEWS May 2023 mean annual wage for SOC 33-3031 is $76,060 ($36.57/hour) across 390 employed wardens — $15,680 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). New York 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): 390 of the BLS-counted 6,290 U.S. fish and game wardens work in New York — 6.2% of the national total. That share ranks among the larger 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 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 wardens are sworn officers whose arrest authority covers wildlife and natural-resource violations statewide under the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement. The demands of Adirondack and Catskill backcountry patrols at the nation's second-largest warden force (390 officers) shape the daily routine. On the credential side, applicants must clear the state’s education bar — bachelor's degree or 60 credits + 2 years experience — 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 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. Training at the New York State Basic School for Environmental Conservation Officers (26-week residential) spans approximately 26 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 Adirondack and Catskill backcountry patrols at the nation's second-largest warden force (390 officers) — before the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement grants full sworn commission.

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:

Lock in the basics — U.S. citizenship, the minimum age of 20, bachelor's degree or 60 credits + 2 years experience, and a clean record are the entry bar in New York.
Satisfy the education or experience requirement — Bachelor's degree or 60 credits + 2 years experience.
Submit your application and clear the exam battery — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement stages a written test, physical agility assessment, oral board, and background investigation.
Earn your academy diploma — Finish the New York State Basic School for Environmental Conservation Officers (26-week residential) program.
Complete field training, then take the oath — Supervised patrol precedes full New York game-warden commission.

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

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? Expect about 12 to 24 months end-to-end — hiring and testing (3–6 months), the academy (approximately 26 weeks), then field training (3–6 months). Timelines shift with academy class scheduling.

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.