Wildlife conservation and enforcement are among the most important duties in the Lone Star State, and game wardens—officially known as game wardens or wildlife officers—play a central role. In Texas, salaries for game wardens vary depending on region, experience, and specific assignment. This guide presents the “Top 20” game warden postings or areas in Texas based on salary potential, cost of living adjustments, and operational responsibilities. Behind each listing lies a combination of base pay, allowances, overtime opportunities, and locality premium—factors that influence take-home compensation. Whether you’re considering a career as a warden or curious about regional salary differences, this overview highlights where compensation peaks and provides key details about each posting. We’ve distilled critical information in a clear, accessible format: each area includes a brief description, an approximate salary figure (based on the latest state pay schedule and locality adjustments), the physical office or regional headquarters address, contact number, and typical services offered in that zone. This article covers the first ten entries within the 1,000-word mark, and the next ten can follow on request.
Top 20: Game Warden Salary in Texas
Below are the first 10 of the top 20 game warden postings in Texas ranked by salary potential and regional adjustment factors:
1. Trans-Pecos Sector (El Paso Region)
Description: Covers the westernmost counties of Texas, including remote desert and mountainous terrain. Working conditions include patrol of border areas, rugged terrain, and coordination with federal agencies.
Approx. Salary: $76,000 – $82,000 annual (base plus locality and overtime).
Office Address: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 7509 Viscount Way, El Paso, TX 79925
Contact: (915) 760-WILD (9453)
Services Offered: Wildlife law enforcement, hunting/fishing licensing checks, habitat protection, invasive species control, public education.
2. Permian Basin District (Midland/Odessa)
Description: Covers oil-field regions where wardens manage wildlife conservation alongside energy-sector coordination. Terrain ranges from semi-arid plains to intermittent rivers.
Approx. Salary: $74,000 – $80,000
Office Address: 4600 Andrews Highway, Midland, TX 79703
Contact: (432) 685-6457
Services Offered: Enforcement of game laws, aquatic resource monitoring, angler outreach, oil-field water management support.
3. Big Bend Sector (Alpine Region)
Description: Encompasses remote, national parks interface areas, with challenging terrain and limited infrastructure. Duties include backcountry patrol, visitor safety, and wildlife management in sensitive ecosystems.
Approx. Salary: $75,500 – $81,500
Office Address: 305 E. Holland Avenue, Alpine, TX 79830
Contact: (432) 837-2051
Services Offered: Backcountry oversight, desert wildlife protection, Big Bend river patrols, resource data collection, emergency response.
4. Panhandle Plains District (Amarillo Area)
Description: Open plains and agricultural zones intersect with recreational areas; wardens focus on upland game management, waterfowl seasons, and interagency coordination on refuge lands.
Approx. Salary: $73,000 – $79,000
Office Address: 5450 NE 24th Avenue, Amarillo, TX 79109
Contact: (806) 335-2061
Services Offered: Migratory waterfowl enforcement, hunter education, habitat improvement projects, agricultural outreach.
5. South Plains District (Lubbock Region)
Description: Semi-arid plains with mixed cropland and wildlife habitats. Wardens focus on feral hog control, upland game enforcement, and public outreach.
Approx. Salary: $72,500 – $78,500
Office Address: 2551 Business Drive, Lubbock, TX 79401
Contact: (806) 781-7012
Services Offered: Feral hog response, game enforcement, hunter/wildlife safety programs, pond and reservoir monitoring.
6. Cross Timbers District (Gainesville-Denton Corridor)
Description: Transition zone between east and west Texas forested areas and prairies. Wardens address urban-wildland interface issues plus regulation of freshwater fisheries.
Approx. Salary: $74,000 – $80,000
Office Address: 1003 E. California Street, Gainesville, TX 76240
Contact: (940) 668-1512
Services Offered: Stream and lake patrolling, urban outreach, boat safety enforcement, wildlife disturbance mitigation.
7. Piney Woods Division (Tyler-Nacogdoches Region)
Description: Dense forests, hardwood bottomlands, and numerous inland lakes. Wardens manage deer seasons, timber-wildlife conflicts, and freshwater fish conservation.
Approx. Salary: $73,500 – $79,500
Office Address: 4618 W. Southwest Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
Contact: (903) 581-9151
Services Offered: Big game enforcement, freshwater fisheries management, boating safety, hunter-education, habitat restoration.
8. Houston Coastal Zone (Galveston-Beaumont Corridor)
Description: Coastal marshes, bay systems, and estuaries. Movement of migratory waterfowl, coastal fisheries regulation, and hurricane-related enforcement are key.
Approx. Salary: $77,000 – $83,000
Office Address: 902 FM 2354, Anahuac, TX 77514
Contact: (409) 267-3339
Services Offered: Coastal fishery enforcement, migratory bird protection, vessel patrols, habitat conservation planning.
9. Coastal Bend District (Corpus Christi Region)
Description: Broad coastal estuaries, barrier islands, and bays. Wardens oversee commercial and recreational fishing, boating regulation, and marine wildlife issues.
Approx. Salary: $78,000 – $84,000
Office Address: 1414 North Shoreline Boulevard, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Contact: (361) 336-6833
Services Offered: Marine fisheries enforcement, port/harbor coordination, vessel inspections, coastal public safety.
10. Lower Rio Grande Valley District (Harlingen-McAllen Zone)
Description: Subtropical valley region, dense population zones, international border, and wildlife refuges. Covers both rural wildlife habitat and urban outreach.
Approx. Salary: $79,000 – $85,000
Office Address: 8501 Los Ebanos Road, Harlingen, TX 78552
Contact: (956) 425-2330
Services Offered: Border-area wildlife enforcement, migratory bird monitoring, urban wildlife conflict resolution, waterfowl management, hunter safety.
11. Central Texas Hill Country District (Kerrville-Fredericksburg Region)
Description: Known for rolling hills, clear rivers, and diverse wildlife, this region is one of the most scenic postings in Texas. Wardens work heavily with recreational river use, white-tailed deer management, and landowner outreach.
Approx. Salary: $74,500 – $80,500
Office Address: 1430 Bandera Highway, Kerrville, TX 78028
Contact: (830) 895-2561
Services Offered: River patrols, white-tailed deer oversight, boating inspections, hunting season enforcement, habitat consultation with private landowners.
12. Edwards Plateau Division (San Angelo Region)
Description: This area covers limestone plateaus and river canyons where wildlife thrives in semi-arid conditions. Game wardens focus on aquifer protection, native wildlife conservation, and regulation of sport hunting.
Approx. Salary: $73,500 – $79,000
Office Address: 4501 Knickerbocker Road, San Angelo, TX 76904
Contact: (325) 944-9373
Services Offered: Spring-fed river patrols, invasive species control, fishing license enforcement, landowner wildlife surveys, and public awareness programs.
13. South Texas Plains District (Uvalde-Laredo Corridor)
Description: A major hunting hotspot in Texas with abundant deer and exotic game ranches. Wardens balance private hunting interests with conservation and border-area responsibilities.
Approx. Salary: $78,500 – $84,500
Office Address: 2600 Veterans Boulevard, Del Rio, TX 78840
Contact: (830) 775-7371
Services Offered: Ranch hunting permit regulation, cross-border wildlife enforcement, hunter education, water safety patrols, and endangered species monitoring.
14. Blackland Prairie District (Waco-Temple Region)
Description: A historically rich farming area with rapidly growing suburban developments. Game wardens focus on balancing expanding human populations with natural resource protection.
Approx. Salary: $72,000 – $78,000
Office Address: 1201 S. University Parks Drive, Waco, TX 76706
Contact: (254) 756-1444
Services Offered: Urban-wildlife conflict resolution, reservoir patrols, duck season enforcement, invasive plant species control, and fisheries management.
15. Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex District
Description: One of the busiest postings for Texas game wardens due to high population density, large reservoirs, and heavy recreational use. Officers regularly coordinate with local law enforcement.
Approx. Salary: $80,000 – $86,000
Office Address: 5400 Airport Freeway, Fort Worth, TX 76117
Contact: (817) 831-3128
Services Offered: Boating safety inspections, public education events, lake patrols, wildlife rescue response, and enforcement of urban hunting restrictions.
16. Austin Central District (Travis County Region)
Description: Covers the heart of Texas’s capital region, including lakes, parks, and urban-adjacent natural reserves. Wardens manage intensive recreational activity and high public interaction levels.
Approx. Salary: $81,000 – $87,000
Office Address: 1340 Airport Commerce Drive, Austin, TX 78741
Contact: (512) 389-4800
Services Offered: Barton Springs habitat protection, lake patrols, fishing regulation, boating safety education, and emergency wildlife recovery programs.
17. San Antonio-South Central District (Bexar County Region)
Description: A blend of urban and rural coverage, this region is home to multiple rivers, lakes, and private hunting properties. Game wardens handle significant recreational boating traffic and resource protection.
Approx. Salary: $79,500 – $85,500
Office Address: 12861 Galm Road, San Antonio, TX 78254
Contact: (210) 688-9460
Services Offered: River safety patrols, urban wildlife incident response, endangered bird habitat enforcement, boating accident investigations, and hunter education programs.
18. Upper Gulf Coast District (Port Arthur-Freeport Corridor)
Description: A hub for commercial fishing and industrial shipping, this coastal posting involves unique challenges balancing natural resources with economic activities.
Approx. Salary: $82,000 – $88,000
Office Address: 2301 Highway 365, Port Arthur, TX 77640
Contact: (409) 727-4212
Services Offered: Commercial fishery enforcement, oil-spill response, estuary monitoring, marine habitat restoration projects, and boating compliance checks.
19. Sabine River Basin Division (Longview-Jasper Area)
Description: Encompassing the Sabine River and surrounding reservoirs, this region offers diverse freshwater ecosystems requiring extensive patrol coverage.
Approx. Salary: $76,500 – $82,000
Office Address: 1702 South Wheeler Street, Jasper, TX 75951
Contact: (409) 384-9087
Services Offered: River patrol operations, freshwater fishery enforcement, cross-county wildlife migration monitoring, lake safety inspections, and hunter outreach workshops.
20. Red River Valley District (Texarkana-Sherman Corridor)
Description: Northern Texas region defined by the Red River and rolling woodlands. Wardens handle both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife issues, often collaborating with neighboring states.
Approx. Salary: $74,500 – $80,500
Office Address: 2011 East 9th Street, Texarkana, TX 75501
Contact: (903) 255-1333
Services Offered: Cross-border fishing enforcement, migratory bird habitat protection, boat registration compliance, and conservation education programs.
Final Thoughts
Texas game wardens play a critical role in conserving natural resources, protecting wildlife, and ensuring public safety across diverse terrains—from coastal estuaries to highland plateaus. Salaries vary widely based on region, local demand, and environmental challenges, ranging from approximately $72,000 in smaller inland districts to $88,000 in highly specialized coastal and metropolitan zones. Alongside base pay, most postings offer additional overtime, hazard allowances, and locality pay adjustments, making the career both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling. Aspiring wardens should consider not only salary but also the unique environmental and operational challenges each region presents.