Career Guide

Game Warden in Tennessee — 2026 Career Guide

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

Game wardens in Tennessee earn a mean annual wage of $72,200 ($34.71/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — above the national median of $60,380.

By WardenTools · Last updated 2026-06

Game wardens in Tennessee are sworn law enforcement officers who enforce wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural-resource laws under the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Tennessee employs the third-most game wardens (370) with a strong location quotient of 2.74. BLS OEWS May 2023 puts Tennessee game-warden pay at a $72,200 mean annual wage ($34.71/hour) for SOC 33-3031 — $11,820 above the $60,380 national midpoint, a 20% premium, across 370 employed wardens. Fieldwork in Tennessee centers on TVA-reservoir and Appalachian enforcement at the nation's third-largest warden force (370 officers).

Tennessee game warden in uniform patrolling a forested wildlife area in the Smoky Mountains

Written by the WardenTools. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2023. Requirements sourced from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). This is career information — verify current standards with the agency before applying.

Tennessee Game Warden Salary

Here's how Tennessee game warden pay compares. The BLS OEWS May 2023 mean annual wage for SOC 33-3031 is $72,200 ($34.71/hour) across 370 employed wardens — $11,820 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). Tennessee 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): 370 of the BLS-counted 6,290 U.S. fish and game wardens work in Tennessee — 5.9% 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 Tennessee game warden mean wage to the national median and the highest-paying state

Tennessee Game Warden Requirements

To become a game warden in Tennessee, applicants must meet the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) 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

Tennessee wardens are sworn officers whose arrest authority covers wildlife and natural-resource violations statewide under the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The demands of TVA-reservoir and Appalachian enforcement at the nation's third-largest warden force (370 officers) 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 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) for the official, current requirements before applying.

Tennessee Game Warden Academy & Training

Tennessee game wardens train at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (POST certified), completing state peace-officer certification plus agency-specific wildlife enforcement training. Training at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (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 TVA-reservoir and Appalachian enforcement at the nation's third-largest warden force (370 officers) — before the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) grants full sworn commission.

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

How to Become a Game Warden in Tennessee: 5 Steps

The path to becoming a Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
Satisfy the education or experience requirement — High school diploma + bachelor's preferred.
Submit your application and clear the exam battery — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) stages a written test, physical agility assessment, oral board, and background investigation.
Earn your academy diploma — Finish the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (POST certified) program.
Complete field training, then take the oath — Supervised patrol precedes full Tennessee game-warden commission.

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

Tennessee Game Warden FAQ

How much does a game warden make in Tennessee? Game wardens in Tennessee earn a mean annual wage of $72,200 ($34.71/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — above the national median of $60,380.

What are the requirements to be a game warden in Tennessee? Minimum age 21, High school diploma + bachelor's preferred, U.S. citizenship, a clean criminal record, and a valid driver's license. See the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) for official current standards.

How long does it take to become a game warden in Tennessee? 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 Tennessee? The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Visit https://www.tn.gov/twra for current openings.

Explore Neighboring States

Compare Tennessee to nearby states: Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia. 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
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA): https://www.tn.gov/twra
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 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) before applying.