Career Guide

Game Warden in Virginia — 2026 Career Guide

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

Game wardens in Virginia earn a mean annual wage of $54,880 ($26.38/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — below the national median of $60,380.

By WardenTools · Last updated 2026-06

Game wardens in Virginia are sworn law enforcement officers who enforce wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural-resource laws under the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division. Virginia conservation police officers have full law enforcement authority across all 133 counties. BLS OEWS May 2023 puts Virginia game-warden pay at a $54,880 mean annual wage ($26.38/hour) for SOC 33-3031 — $5,500 below the $60,380 national midpoint, a 9% discount, across 80 employed wardens. Fieldwork in Virginia centers on statewide full-authority patrols across all 133 counties from Chesapeake tidewater to Appalachia.

Written by the WardenTools. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2023. Requirements sourced from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division. This is career information — verify current standards with the agency before applying.

Virginia Game Warden Salary

Here's how Virginia game warden pay compares. The BLS OEWS May 2023 mean annual wage for SOC 33-3031 is $54,880 ($26.38/hour) across 80 employed wardens — $5,500 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). Virginia 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): 80 of the BLS-counted 6,290 U.S. fish and game wardens work in Virginia — 1.3% 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 Virginia game warden mean wage to the national median and the highest-paying state

Virginia Game Warden Requirements

To become a game warden in Virginia, applicants must meet the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources baseline standards:

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

Virginia wardens are sworn officers whose arrest authority covers wildlife and natural-resource violations statewide under the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division. The demands of statewide full-authority patrols across all 133 counties from Chesapeake tidewater to Appalachia shape the daily routine. On the credential side, applicants must clear the state’s education bar — high school diploma + college coursework — 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 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division for the official, current requirements before applying.

Virginia Game Warden Academy & Training

Virginia game wardens train at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Basic Academy, completing state peace-officer certification plus agency-specific wildlife enforcement training. Training at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Basic 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 statewide full-authority patrols across all 133 counties from Chesapeake tidewater to Appalachia — before the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division grants full sworn commission.

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

How to Become a Game Warden in Virginia: 5 Steps

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

Lock in the basics — U.S. citizenship, the minimum age of 21, high school diploma + college coursework, and a clean record are the entry bar in Virginia.
Satisfy the education or experience requirement — High school diploma + college coursework.
Submit your application and clear the exam battery — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division stages a written test, physical agility assessment, oral board, and background investigation.
Earn your academy diploma — Finish the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Basic Academy program.
Complete field training, then take the oath — Supervised patrol precedes full Virginia game-warden commission.

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

Virginia Game Warden FAQ

How much does a game warden make in Virginia? Game wardens in Virginia earn a mean annual wage of $54,880 ($26.38/hour) per BLS OEWS May 2023 data — below the national median of $60,380.

What are the requirements to be a game warden in Virginia? Minimum age 21, High school diploma + college coursework, U.S. citizenship, a clean criminal record, and a valid driver's license. See the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division for official current standards.

How long does it take to become a game warden in Virginia? 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 Virginia? The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division. Visit https://dwr.virginia.gov for current openings.

Explore Neighboring States

Compare Virginia to nearby states: North Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia. 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
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement Division: https://dwr.virginia.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 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources before applying.