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Arkansas / Department of Correction / Warden I

Job-title file

Warden I

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

5 employees hold this title in Department of Correction. Median total compensation for the role is $108,992, above the department median of $55,930.

Employees
5
Total payroll
$545K
Role median
$108,992
Agency median
$55,930
Comparison
Above

Compared with the local labor market

Warden I pay vs. Arkansas

Across all employers in Arkansas, the median wage for Fish and Game Wardensabout 80 people is $72,200. Department of Correction pays a median base salary of $119,891 for this role, 66% above that figureabove the 90th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Correction sits in the local pay range

10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
$51,000
$58,340
$72,200
$85,030
$90,360
Department of Correction median · $119,891

The bar is the range of annual wages for Fish and Game Wardens across every employer in Arkansas, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Correction’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Fish and Game Wardensabout 5,770 people is $74,060. Department of Correction’s median base salary is 62% above that national figure, above the 90th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
$50,990
$61,430
$74,060
$89,110
$100,980
Department of Correction median · $119,891

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the Arkansas range relative to the national one.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Correction is $119,891, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare jurisdictions

Warden beyond Arkansas

This role is reported in 6 jurisdictions. In Arkansas, the median of $119,891 ranks #3 of 6. See Warden across all of Arkansas

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

New York City
$223,079 · 12
Tennessee
$156,600 · 11
Texas
$105,339 · 102
Georgia
$94,610 · 43

Median total compensation for comparable Warden roles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Thomas Hurst

Warden I/Department of Correction

2026 total comp
$108,992
Sub-department
LAW ENFORCEMENT & SAFETY
Base pay
$108,992
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$108,992
Hire date
07-22-1984
Pay grade
Les10
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code
SCP21C
Pay Scale Type
Classified
Position Number
22084754

Thomas Hurst holds the role of Warden I at Department of Correction within Law Enforcement &Amp; Safety. Their hire date on record is 07-22-1984. In 2026, their total compensation was $108,992. Their pay grade is Les10.

Michelle Gray

Warden I/Department of Correction

2026 total comp
$108,992
Sub-department
LAW ENFORCEMENT & SAFETY
Base pay
$108,992
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$108,992
Hire date
05-08-1989
Pay grade
Les10
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code
SCP21C
Pay Scale Type
Classified
Position Number
22077522

Michelle Gray is a Warden I at Department of Correction within Law Enforcement &Amp; Safety. Records show a hire date of 05-08-1989. 2026 total compensation came to $108,992. They are classified at grade Les10.

Christopher Budnik

Warden I/Department of Correction

2026 total comp
$108,992
Sub-department
LAW ENFORCEMENT & SAFETY
Base pay
$108,992
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$108,992
Hire date
09-22-2003
Pay grade
Les10
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code
SCP21C
Pay Scale Type
Classified
Position Number
22085430

At Department of Correction, Christopher Budnik serves as a Warden I within Law Enforcement &Amp; Safety. Records show a hire date of 09-22-2003. Their 2026 pay totaled $108,992. They are classified at grade Les10.

James Jr

Warden I/Department of Correction

2026 total comp
$108,992
Sub-department
LAW ENFORCEMENT & SAFETY
Base pay
$108,992
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$108,992
Hire date
09-29-2007
Pay grade
Les10
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code
SCP21C
Pay Scale Type
Classified
Position Number
22142874

James Jr works as a Warden I for Department of Correction within Law Enforcement &Amp; Safety. Their hire date on record is 09-29-2007. James earned $108,992 in 2026. Their pay grade is Les10.

James Gibson

Warden I/Department of Correction

2026 total comp
$108,992
Sub-department
LAW ENFORCEMENT & SAFETY
Base pay
$108,992
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$108,992
Hire date
12-03-1977
Pay grade
Les10
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code
SCP21C
Pay Scale Type
Classified
Position Number
22087269

At Department of Correction, James Gibson serves as a Warden I within Law Enforcement &Amp; Safety. Records show a hire date of 12-03-1977. Their 2026 pay totaled $108,992. They are classified at grade Les10.