Texas / Parks and Wildlife Department

Agency file

Parks and Wildlife Department

Source file: Texas — State Employee Salaries (Texas Tribune) / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Parks and Wildlife Department protects natural resources and the environment — conservation, parks and wildlife, and environmental regulation.

In 2026, this agency had 3,257 employees with median total compensation of $64,469; the highest distinct record was $268,230.

Year: 2026
Total payroll: $230.3M
Employees: 3,257
Median total: $64,469
Highest record: $268,230

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$9,148$138,581+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 3,257 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($64,469) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $70,695 (100%)
Overtime — $0 (0%)
Other — $0 (0%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$45,360

$51,293

$64,469

$85,989

$98,085

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $98,085 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $45,360. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Game Warden

378 · $89,789

Maintenance Specialist III

187 · $47,048

Customer Service Representative I

180 · $40,038

Natural Resources Specialist IV

95 · $81,322

Fish and Wildlife Technician II

93 · $54,576

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2025	$220.3M —	3,220 —	$63,741 —
2026	$230.3M ▲ 4.5%	3,257 ▲ 1.1%	$64,469 ▲ 1.1%

Compare

Similar departments

Departments elsewhere with the most similar mix of roles — a proxy for the same kind of agency, matched by workforce composition rather than name. Pay is not cost-of-living adjusted.

Soil and Water Conservation Board Texas47% match
Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Maine44% match

Record list

Employees

Page 2

Len Polasek

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$120,000

Base pay: $120,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: May 1, 1996
Monthly Pay: $10,000
State Employee Number: 47338

Len Polasek is a Manager V at Parks and Wildlife Department. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $120,000.

Ryan Rogers

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$120,000

Base pay: $120,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: T

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Feb 15, 2007
Monthly Pay: $10,000
State Employee Number: 198251

Ryan Rogers is a Manager V at Parks and Wildlife Department. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $120,000.

Stephen Lange

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$120,000

Base pay: $120,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Jun 1, 1998
Monthly Pay: $10,000
State Employee Number: 139369

Stephen Lange works as a Manager V for Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Stephen earned $120,000 in 2026.

Daniel Reece

Program Supervisor VII/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$118,558

Base pay: $118,558
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $118,558
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1589
Hire Date: May 19, 2014
Monthly Pay: $9,880
State Employee Number: 778268

At Parks and Wildlife Department, Daniel Reece serves as a Program Supervisor VII. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $118,558.

Thomas Baker

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$118,500

Base pay: $118,500
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $118,500
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Apr 18, 2022
Monthly Pay: $9,875
State Employee Number: 1377377

Thomas Baker works as a Manager V for Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Thomas earned $118,500 in 2026.

Larry Williams

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$118,500

Base pay: $118,500
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $118,500
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Feb 1, 2001
Monthly Pay: $9,875
State Employee Number: 164065

Larry Williams is a Manager V at Parks and Wildlife Department. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $118,500.

Venugopal Nerametla

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$118,500

Base pay: $118,500
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $118,500
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Jul 6, 2000
Monthly Pay: $9,875
State Employee Number: 116673

Venugopal Nerametla holds the role of Manager V at Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $118,500.

Matthew Bridgefarmer

Lieutenant Game Warden/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$117,739

Base pay: $117,739
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,739
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 9991
Hire Date: Oct 1, 2006
Monthly Pay: $9,812
State Employee Number: 103031

Matthew Bridgefarmer holds the role of Lieutenant Game Warden at Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $117,739.

Ricky May

Lieutenant Game Warden/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$117,739

Base pay: $117,739
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,739
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 9991
Hire Date: Oct 1, 2006
Monthly Pay: $9,812
State Employee Number: 43713

Ricky May works as a Lieutenant Game Warden for Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Ricky earned $117,739 in 2026.

George Gaulden

Lieutenant Game Warden/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$117,739

Base pay: $117,739
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,739
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 9991
Hire Date: Oct 1, 2007
Monthly Pay: $9,812
State Employee Number: 9284

George Gaulden works as a Lieutenant Game Warden for Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. George earned $117,739 in 2026.

Jason Jones

Lieutenant Game Warden/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$117,739

Base pay: $117,739
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,739
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 9991
Hire Date: Nov 1, 2008
Monthly Pay: $9,812
State Employee Number: 53283

Jason Jones works as a Lieutenant Game Warden for Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Jason earned $117,739 in 2026.

Stephen Gober

Lieutenant State Park Police Officer/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$117,739

Base pay: $117,739
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,739
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 9917
Hire Date: Feb 8, 2008
Monthly Pay: $9,812
State Employee Number: 158099

Stephen Gober is a Lieutenant State Park Police Officer at Parks and Wildlife Department. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $117,739.

Rebecca Gonzales

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$117,685

Base pay: $117,685
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,685
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Sep 1, 2023
Monthly Pay: $9,807
State Employee Number: 133670

Rebecca Gonzales holds the role of Manager V at Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $117,685.

Carl Kittel

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2025 total comp

$117,685

Base pay: $117,685
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,685
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Oct 1, 2006
Monthly Pay: $9,807
State Employee Number: 187838

Carl Kittel is a Manager V at Parks and Wildlife Department. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $117,685.

Melissa Barbato

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$117,685

Base pay: $117,685
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,685
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Apr 16, 2007
Monthly Pay: $9,807
State Employee Number: 52142

Melissa Barbato works as a Manager V for Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Melissa earned $117,685 in 2026.

Thomas Lang

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2025 total comp

$117,685

Base pay: $117,685
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,685
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Oct 2, 2012
Monthly Pay: $9,807
State Employee Number: 341909

Thomas Lang holds the role of Manager V at Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $117,685.

Shana Dudley

Manager V/Parks and Wildlife Department

2026 total comp

$117,685

Base pay: $117,685
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,685
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1604
Hire Date: Jun 15, 2016
Monthly Pay: $9,807
State Employee Number: 915891

Shana Dudley works as a Manager V for Parks and Wildlife Department. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Shana earned $117,685 in 2026.