Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Killeen-Temple, TX
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the Killeen-Temple, TX metro area earn a median of $70,590 a year ($33.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,730 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $93,790. Pay here is 22% lower than the Texas statewide median of $90,510. There are 0.89 detectives and criminal investigators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $74,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for detectives and criminal investigators in Killeen-Temple, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| 25th percentile | $53,920 | $25.92 |
| Median | $70,590 | $33.94 |
| 75th percentile | $80,240 | $38.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,730 | $63.33 |
| Average (mean) | $74,920 | $36.02 |
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 | $5,882.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,941.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,715 |
| Weekly | $1,357.50 |
| Hourly | $33.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,590 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $109,300 | 880 |
| El Paso, TX | $109,300 | 1,790 |
| San Angelo, TX | $106,580 | 80 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $103,380 | 1,600 |
| Laredo, TX | $98,180 | 1,410 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $91,560 | 590 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $89,970 | 180 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $86,390 | 1,870 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $86,110 | 1,830 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $83,830 | 1,670 |
| Tyler, TX | $79,710 | 120 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $78,970 | 1,710 |
| Midland, TX | $78,920 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $76,320 | 40 |
| Amarillo, TX | $74,980 | 90 |
| Lubbock, TX | $72,820 | 280 |
| Waco, TX | $70,990 | 120 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $70,760 | 110 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $70,740 | 30 |
| Longview, TX | $63,950 | 60 |
| Abilene, TX | $59,980 | 60 |
| Victoria, TX | $58,030 | 50 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $55,950 | 30 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Killeen-Temple, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $53,090 | $25.52 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $70,240 | $33.77 |
| Security Guard | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| Firefighter | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $59,890 | $28.80 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $74,350 | $35.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $92,690 | $44.56 |
| School Bus Monitor | $25,990 | $12.50 |
| Animal Control Worker | $38,410 | $18.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $60,110 | $28.90 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Killeen-Temple, TX
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 Killeen-Temple, TX?
The median salary for detectives and criminal investigators in the Killeen-Temple, TX metro area is $70,590 a year, or $33.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid detectives and criminal investigators make in Killeen-Temple, TX?
The top 10% of detectives and criminal investigators in the Killeen-Temple, TX metro area earn at least $131,730 a year. The top 25% earn $80,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Killeen-Temple, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,990 a year, and a quarter of detectives and criminal investigators earn $53,920 or less.
How many detectives and criminal investigators work in Killeen-Temple, TX?
About 130 detectives and criminal investigators are employed in the Killeen-Temple, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.