The average salary for a fish and game warden in South Dakota is around $68,810 per year.
Avg Salary
Fish and game wardens earn an average yearly salary of $68,810.
Wages typically start from $37,170 and go up to $84,860.
3% above national average Updated in 2025
Fish and game warden earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level fish and game warden earnings begin at:
$40.80 per hour
$84,860 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level fish and game warden earnings begin at:
$37.48 per hour
$77,960 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level fish and game warden earnings begin at:
$33.08 per hour
$68,810 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level fish and game warden earnings begin at:
$29.96 per hour
$62,320 per year
10th percentile
Starting level fish and game warden earnings begin at:
$17.87 per hour
$37,170 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Fish and game warden salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Iowa | $98,260 |
| Indiana | $93,990 |
| Nevada | $91,750 |
| Illinois | $89,740 |
| Maryland | $89,300 |
| Wisconsin | $89,110 |
| Michigan | $87,460 |
| Texas | $85,980 |
| New York | $80,060 |
| Washington | $79,960 |
| North Dakota | $79,520 |
| Georgia | $79,440 |
| Tennessee | $75,930 |
| Ohio | $75,880 |
| Rhode Island | $75,430 |
| Vermont | $74,940 |
| Alabama | $74,290 |
| Wyoming | $74,060 |
| Maine | $73,260 |
| Idaho | $73,200 |
| New Jersey | $72,920 |
| Arkansas | $72,200 |
| Missouri | $70,030 |
| Hawaii | $69,250 |
| Oklahoma | $69,120 |
| South Dakota | $68,810 |
| Virginia | $66,540 |
| Connecticut | $65,400 |
| Nebraska | $63,000 |
| West Virginia | $62,530 |
| Kansas | $61,840 |
| North Carolina | $61,430 |
| Louisiana | $59,940 |
| Montana | $59,490 |
| Massachusetts | $55,610 |
| Kentucky | $54,570 |
| Arizona | $52,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,250 |
| South Carolina | $46,450 |
| New Mexico | $42,620 |
| Mississippi | $41,700 |
| Florida | $31,200 |
| California | $100,090 |
How do fish and game warden salaries compare to similar careers?
Fish and game wardens earn about the same as related careers in South Dakota. On average, they make less than animal scientists but more than exterminators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Animal scientist salary | $77K |
| Court reporter salary | $75K |
| Zoologist salary | $66K |
| Probation officer salary | $67K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $69K |
| Sheriff salary | $61K |
| Police officer salary | $61K |
| Paralegal salary | $58K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $52K |
| Exterminator salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)