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Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in the U.S.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the U.S. earn a median of $93,790 a year ($45.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 114,430 workers.

Median salary
$93,790
Hourly
$45.09
Average
$99,430
Top 10% earn
$160,540
Workers
114,430

Pay ranges from $55,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,540 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $99,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.

Pay range for detectives and criminal investigators in the U.S.

$0$170,000
Pay levelYearlyHourly
10th percentile (entry level)$55,390$26.63
25th percentile$69,330$33.33
Median$93,790$45.09
75th percentile$120,520$57.94
90th percentile (top earners)$160,540$77.18
Average (mean)$99,430$47.80

Half of detectives and criminal investigators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.

Median paycheck, before taxes

Pay periodAmount
Monthly$7,815.83
Semi-monthly (24 a year)$3,907.92
Biweekly (26 a year)$3,607.31
Weekly$1,803.65
Hourly$45.09

Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.

Buying a home? On a $93,790 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by state

StateMedian salaryWorkers
District of Columbia$160,7602,980
Maryland$126,7301,010
California$124,84012,610
Delaware$122,050140
New Jersey$116,3003,080
Washington$115,7901,850
Alaska$114,940140
Hawaii$113,940440
Virginia$112,7603,180
Massachusetts$110,1501,300
Oregon$107,450520
Vermont$106,330190
Colorado$105,4801,930
Arizona$102,3405,250
New York$101,2409,600
Nebraska$100,530290
Pennsylvania$97,5803,370
Connecticut$95,240940
Nevada$94,470590
Montana$92,410500
West Virginia$92,410220
Illinois$91,1903,270
Wisconsin$91,0401,640
Michigan$90,6502,220
Texas$90,51018,870
New Hampshire$89,290290
Rhode Island$88,450360
Maine$88,310550
New Mexico$86,8402,020
North Dakota$82,290420
Wyoming$81,880170
Oklahoma$80,4301,220
Minnesota$80,0001,970
Iowa$79,560410
Ohio$79,3002,140
Utah$78,920550
South Dakota$77,730250
Tennessee$77,0901,860
Florida$77,0606,440
Kansas$75,7401,060
Missouri$75,6501,600
Idaho$72,520630
Kentucky$71,670720
Puerto Rico$70,760620
Indiana$70,3401,280
Alabama$66,2901,340
Georgia$65,4305,070
North Carolina$63,2803,360
South Carolina$62,7601,470
Louisiana$60,4501,740
Mississippi$58,640810
Arkansas$54,500560

Best-paying metro areas for detectives and criminal investigators

Metro areaMedian salaryWorkers
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$158,640280
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA$158,060240
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$156,7504,830
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$153,57070
Urban Honolulu, HI$140,750350
Great Falls, MT$136,12040
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$133,10060
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$130,81040
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$128,440490
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$127,8903,240
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$127,4201,510
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$126,700690
Anchorage, AK$125,24090
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$124,8402,990
El Centro, CA$123,970770

Metro areas with the most detectives and criminal investigators

Metro areaWorkersMedian salary
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ7,580$106,440
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV4,830$156,750
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA3,240$127,890
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA3,070$69,900
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA2,990$124,840
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN2,290$102,260
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD2,160$97,580
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL2,110$99,080
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX1,870$86,390
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX1,830$86,110
El Paso, TX1,790$109,300
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX1,710$78,970
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX1,670$83,830
Tucson, AZ1,620$105,350
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX1,600$103,380

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian salaryHourly
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,210$36.64
Correctional Officers and Jailers$58,940$28.34
Bailiff$56,600$27.21
Parking Enforcement Worker$46,730$22.47
Fish and Game Wardens$74,060$35.60
Transit and Railroad Police$90,230$43.38
Security Guard$38,020$18.28
Firefighter$59,280$28.50
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580$16.14
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,040$50.98
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$93,530$44.96
Crossing Guards and Flaggers$38,100$18.32
Protective Service Workers, All Other$42,540$20.45
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$55,940$26.90

More: Protective Service Occupations

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a detectives and criminal investigators make in the U.S.?

The median salary for detectives and criminal investigators in the U.S. is $93,790 a year, or $45.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,540 for the top 10%.

How much do the highest-paid detectives and criminal investigators make in the U.S.?

The top 10% of detectives and criminal investigators in the U.S. earn at least $160,540 a year. The top 25% earn $120,520 or more.

What is the starting pay for detectives and criminal investigators in the U.S.?

Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,390 a year, and a quarter of detectives and criminal investigators earn $69,330 or less.

How many detectives and criminal investigators work in the U.S.?

About 114,430 detectives and criminal investigators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.