Prevailing Wage for Fish and Game Wardens
Prevailing wage for Fish and Game Wardens (SOC 33-3031) is set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your job offer is as a Game Warden, Wildlife Conservation Officer, or Fisheries Enforcement Officer, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. city the worksite is in.
See all jobs for Fish and Game WardensLook up your work address
Entry-level wardens with limited field experience, typically recent graduates or candidates new to wildlife enforcement. Employers filing at Level 1 generally expect the hire to work under close supervision with a narrow, defined patrol assignment.
Qualified wardens with some independent field experience handling investigations, biological data collection, and enforcement actions. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Fish and Game Wardens, reflecting the journeyman stage of the occupation.
Experienced wardens who manage complex cases, mentor junior staff, or coordinate across jurisdictions. DOL expects demonstrated proficiency across the full scope of patrol, investigation, and wildlife damage assessment duties.
Fully competent senior wardens in lead or specialist roles, setting enforcement priorities or directing regional programs. Employers filing at Level 4 typically document supervisory responsibility or recognized subject-matter expertise in wildlife law enforcement.
Prevailing Wage for Fish and Game Wardens by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for Fish and Game Wardens
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Fish and Game Wardens and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Fish and Game Wardens
Watch for Florida metro wage floors
Tampa, Jacksonville, and Orlando post some of the lowest prevailing wage floors for this occupation nationally. If a sponsored offer is in one of these metros, confirm the posted salary still meets the certified LCA wage level, not just a state average.
Verify your SOC matches the patrol function
Employers sometimes file wardens under environmental compliance or natural resources inspector codes. If your duties center on patrolling assigned areas and enforcing fish and game law, the filing should reference SOC 33-3031, not a broader environmental title.
Account for the public-agency compensation structure
Most Game Warden and Natural Resource Officer roles sit in state or county agencies where base salary is the primary comp element. Unlike tech roles, equity and signing bonuses rarely count toward prevailing wage compliance, so the base offer is what DOL evaluates.
Find employers with sponsorship history on Migrate Mate
State wildlife agencies that have sponsored Wildlife Conservation Officers or Fisheries Enforcement Officers before are easier to approach. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historical visa sponsorship counts for this occupation, so you can focus outreach on proven sponsors.
Jobs for Fish and Game Wardens are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Fish and Game WardensPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 33-3031.00 alongside Fish and Game Wardens, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Fisheries Enforcement Officer Prevailing Wage
Fisheries Enforcement Officer Prevailing Wage
Fisheries Enforcement Officer positions fall under SOC 33-3031.00 (Fish and Game Wardens). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Game Warden Prevailing Wage
Game Warden Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Game Warden for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-3031.00 (Fish and Game Wardens). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Natural Resource Officer Prevailing Wage
Natural Resource Officer Prevailing Wage
Natural Resource Officer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-3031.00 (Fish and Game Wardens). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
State Game Warden Prevailing Wage
State Game Warden Prevailing Wage
State Game Warden positions fall under SOC 33-3031.00 (Fish and Game Wardens). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
State Wildlife Officer Prevailing Wage
State Wildlife Officer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a State Wildlife Officer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-3031.00 (Fish and Game Wardens). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Wildlife Conservation Officer Prevailing Wage
Wildlife Conservation Officer Prevailing Wage
Wildlife Conservation Officer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-3031.00 (Fish and Game Wardens). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Wildlife Officer Prevailing Wage
Wildlife Officer Prevailing Wage
Wildlife Officer positions fall under SOC 33-3031.00 (Fish and Game Wardens). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Fish and Game Wardens?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish four wage levels for SOC 33-3031. An employer sponsoring a Fish and Game Warden must submit a Labor Condition Application certifying the offered wage meets or exceeds the DOL-determined prevailing wage for the applicable level at the specific worksite location. OFLC administers this certification process.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry-level candidates, Level 2 to qualified professionals with independent field experience, Level 3 to experienced wardens handling complex or multi-jurisdictional work, and Level 4 to fully competent senior or lead officers. Your level is determined by the job duties and experience requirements in the employer's LCA filing, not by your personal preference. Review the position description carefully against DOL's level definitions and ask the employer which level they certified.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much between cities?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro area reflects local labor market conditions. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, and that location's wage floor applies. Indianapolis and Sacramento post significantly higher floors than Florida metros for the same SOC code because regional salary norms, state agency pay scales, and local cost of labor differ. Working in a lower-wage metro legally means a lower floor, not a higher one.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the DOL prevailing wage floor for the applicable level and worksite. If the offer is below the floor, OFLC will not certify the LCA, which blocks the H-1B or green card petition entirely. If a certified LCA is later found to have understated the wage, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential USCIS and DOL penalties. The prevailing wage is a legal floor, not a negotiating baseline.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Fish and Game Warden position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 33-3031 for your target metro area. Enter the occupation code, select the worksite state and metropolitan area, and the tool returns all four level wages for that location. Cross-check the employer's offered salary against the level shown on their certified LCA. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have historically sponsored Fish and Game Wardens and Natural Resource Officers, narrowing your search to agencies with a proven sponsorship track record.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Fish and Game Wardens right now.
Search Jobs for Fish and Game Wardens