Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Fresno, CA
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median of $109,720 a year ($52.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,870 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $93,790. Pay here is 12% lower than the California statewide median of $124,840. There are 0.88 detectives and criminal investigators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $114,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for detectives and criminal investigators in Fresno, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,180 | $36.63 |
| 25th percentile | $98,550 | $47.38 |
| Median | $109,720 | $52.75 |
| 75th percentile | $132,390 | $63.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,870 | $76.38 |
| Average (mean) | $114,580 | $55.09 |
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 period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,143.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,571.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,220 |
| Weekly | $2,110 |
| Hourly | $52.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $109,720 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $158,640 | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $153,570 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $133,100 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $130,810 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $127,890 | 3,240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $127,420 | 1,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $126,700 | 690 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $124,840 | 2,990 |
| El Centro, CA | $123,970 | 770 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $113,360 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $109,500 | 1,570 |
| Vallejo, CA | $108,430 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $105,990 | 50 |
| Modesto, CA | $104,000 | 90 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $102,710 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $96,760 | 230 |
| Redding, CA | $94,280 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $85,740 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for detectives and criminal investigators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $160,760 |
| Maryland | $126,730 |
| California | $124,840 |
| Delaware | $122,050 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 |
| Washington | $115,790 |
| Alaska | $114,940 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 |
| Virginia | $112,760 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 |
See Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fresno, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $94,010 | $45.20 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,770 | $48.45 |
| Security Guard | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Firefighter | $79,160 | $38.06 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $131,790 | $63.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $127,830 | $61.46 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $106,330 | $51.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,460 | $30.51 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $43,590 | $20.96 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $98,090 | $47.16 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Fresno, CA
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 Fresno, CA?
The median salary for detectives and criminal investigators in the Fresno, CA metro area is $109,720 a year, or $52.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid detectives and criminal investigators make in Fresno, CA?
The top 10% of detectives and criminal investigators in the Fresno, CA metro area earn at least $158,870 a year. The top 25% earn $132,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Fresno, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,180 a year, and a quarter of detectives and criminal investigators earn $98,550 or less.
How many detectives and criminal investigators work in Fresno, CA?
About 420 detectives and criminal investigators are employed in the Fresno, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.