Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to become a game warden in Maryland
- Certifying body
- Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPTSC), Dept. of Public Safety and Correctional Services
- Certification
- Police officer certification (provisional certification on hire, full certification after entrance-level and field training)
- Minimum age
- 21 for provisional certification. Applicants may attend an academy younger but may not perform police duties until 21 (COMAR 12.04.01.04A).
- Education
- High school diploma or GED; agencies may accept a college degree instead (COMAR 12.04.01.04C).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident who is an honorably discharged U.S. veteran with a pending citizenship application. Certification ends if citizenship is not obtained (Public Safety Art. §3-209(a)(5),(b); COMAR 12.04.01.04B, .06A(3)).
- Driver's license
- Valid driver's license, and the agency must review the driving record (COMAR 12.04.01.04I).
- Disqualifiers
- Felony, or misdemeanor punishable by more than 1 year (PS §3-213; COMAR 12.04.01.05B). Must be eligible under federal and Maryland law to possess a handgun, which also bars domestic-violence misdemeanants (COMAR .04D). Prior CDS use is limited under COMAR .16, but prior cannabis use is not a disqualifier (PS §3-209(f)). Background, psychological, medical and drug screening required.
- Basic academy
- Commission-approved entrance-level police training program, at least 850 hours (COMAR 12.04.01.09A(2)). Field training (COMAR .17) is extra and not counted toward the 850.
- State exam
- None required
- Fitness standard
- Applicants must submit to a physical agility assessment set by the Commission, and an annual assessment as a condition of certification (PS §3-209(a)(3),(e)). COMAR 12.04.01 does not list events; academies set entrance standards (.09I).
- Time to certify
- Provisional certification lasts 365 cumulative days, the probationary period for completing entrance-level training (COMAR 12.04.01.03D,F; PS §3-215(d), §3-216).
- Officers from other states
- Comparative-compliance waiver for out-of-state or federal officers with comparable training who either worked in law enforcement within 5 years or trained within 2 years (COMAR 12.04.01.14E; PS §3-209(a)(1)(ii)). They must complete Maryland Criminal Code, Motor Vehicle Code and Juvenile Law blocks, emergency medical care, a DUI/SFST course and firearms qualification, and meet all selection standards.
- Continuing training
- 18 hours of Commission-approved in-service per calendar year (rank of first-line supervisor and below) plus annual firearms qualification (COMAR 12.04.01.12A; 12.04.02). Mental-health assessment every 2 years and annual physical agility assessment (PS §3-209(e)).
Covers sworn officers of the State Police, county and municipal police, sheriffs' offices, and listed transit, university, DNR and other forces (PS §3-201(f)). Correctional officers fall under a separate correctional training commission. There is no statewide licensing exam; the academy does the testing (COMAR .09).
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Maryland, all employers Sourced
Fish and Game Wardens (SOC 33-3031) in Maryland, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | MD |
|---|---|
| Workers | 60 |
| 10th percentile | $81,000 |
| Median | $89,300 |
| 90th percentile | $100,980 |
| National median, government employers | $74,060 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pension in Maryland
State employees: State public safety
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System (LEOPS) Members enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 | 2% | age 50, regardless of service | 7% | Not stated |
The statewide plan a new hire usually joins. Some cities and counties run their own plans; check with the employer. Each plan's formula, vesting, cost-of-living adjustment and retiree health are on the Maryland pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Fish & Game Warden page.
Fish & Game Warden in other states
More government jobs in Maryland
Maryland government jobs · Maryland public pension plans · police officer standards in Maryland · exam practice in Maryland