33 Series · SOC 33-3021
Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $93,790
- Median / year
- $160,540
- Top 10% earn
- -0.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 114,430
- US workers
Detectives and Criminal Investigators earn a median of $93,790 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $93,790, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $55,390 (10th percentile) to $160,540 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 114,430 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($160,760), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Detectives and Criminal Investigators earn a median of $93,790, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 80% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #2 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.7% by 2033.
- $93,790
- Median annual wage
- Top 20%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #2 of 24
- in Protective Service
- 2.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $160,760. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) pays a national median of $93,790 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $55,390 at the 10th percentile to $160,540 at the 90th, with a mean of $99,430 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 114,430 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 398 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 7,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 7.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $160,760, which is +71% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $158,640 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 114,430 jobs Median $93,790/yr
Median Salary
$93,790
per year
Median Hourly
$45.09/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$99,430
average
Employment
114,430
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$93,790 Top 20% higher than 80% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Detectives and Criminal Investigators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Detectives and Criminal Investigators sits on the slower-growing side at -0.7% growth and $93,790 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-0.7%
Declining
Annual Openings
7,800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
7.3/100K
Injury Rate
2.5/100
Danger Index
13.7/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Detectives and Criminal Investigators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Reading Comprehension 4.3
Active Listening 4.1
Writing 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Active Learning 3.6
Complex Problem Solving 3.6
Monitoring 3.3
Coordination 3.1
Judgment and Decision Making 3.1
Knowledge Areas
English Language 4.3
Law and Government 4.1
Public Safety and Security 3.8
Administrative 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.5
Communications and Media 3.3
Customer and Personal Service 3.2
Telecommunications 3.1
Education and Training 2.7
Mathematics 2.7
Key Tasks
- ▸ Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
- ▸ Photograph crime or accident scenes for evidence records.
- ▸ Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
- ▸ Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
- ▸ Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- ▸ Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
- ▸ Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
- ▸ Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
- ▸ Validate known intelligence with data from other sources.
- ▸ Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$55,390
25th Percentile
$69,330
Median
$93,790
75th Percentile
$120,520
90th Percentile
$160,540
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $160,760 | +71% above national |
| 2 | Maryland | $126,730 | +35% above national |
| 3 | California | $124,840 | +33% above national |
| 4 | Delaware | $122,050 | +30% above national |
| 5 | New Jersey | $116,300 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Washington | $115,790 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Alaska | $114,940 | +23% above national |
| 8 | Hawaii | $113,940 | +21% above national |
| 9 | Virginia | $112,760 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $110,150 | +17% above national |
| 11 | Oregon | $107,450 | +15% above national |
| 12 | Vermont | $106,330 | +13% above national |
| 13 | Colorado | $105,480 | +12% above national |
| 14 | Arizona | $102,340 | +9% above national |
| 15 | New York | $101,240 | +8% above national |
| 16 | Nebraska | $100,530 | +7% above national |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $97,580 | +4% above national |
| 18 | Connecticut | $95,240 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Nevada | $94,470 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Montana | $92,410 | 1% below national |
| 21 | West Virginia | $92,410 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Illinois | $91,190 | 3% below national |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $91,040 | 3% below national |
| 24 | Michigan | $90,650 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Texas | $90,510 | 3% below national |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $89,290 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $88,450 | 6% below national |
| 28 | Maine | $88,310 | 6% below national |
| 29 | New Mexico | $86,840 | 7% below national |
| 30 | North Dakota | $82,290 | 12% below national |
| 31 | Wyoming | $81,880 | 13% below national |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $80,430 | 14% below national |
| 33 | Minnesota | $80,000 | 15% below national |
| 34 | Iowa | $79,560 | 15% below national |
| 35 | Ohio | $79,300 | 15% below national |
| 36 | Utah | $78,920 | 16% below national |
| 37 | South Dakota | $77,730 | 17% below national |
| 38 | Tennessee | $77,090 | 18% below national |
| 39 | Florida | $77,060 | 18% below national |
| 40 | Kansas | $75,740 | 19% below national |
| 41 | Missouri | $75,650 | 19% below national |
| 42 | Idaho | $72,520 | 23% below national |
| 43 | Kentucky | $71,670 | 24% below national |
| 44 | Puerto Rico | $70,760 | 25% below national |
| 45 | Indiana | $70,340 | 25% below national |
| 46 | Alabama | $66,290 | 29% below national |
| 47 | Georgia | $65,430 | 30% below national |
| 48 | North Carolina | $63,280 | 33% below national |
| 49 | South Carolina | $62,760 | 33% below national |
| 50 | Louisiana | $60,450 | 36% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $58,640 | 37% below national |
| 52 | Arkansas | $54,500 | 42% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 398 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $158,640 | +69% above national |
| 2 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $158,060 | +69% above national |
| 3 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,750 | +67% above national |
| 4 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $153,570 | +64% above national |
| 5 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $140,750 | +50% above national |
| 6 | Great Falls, MT | $136,120 | +45% above national |
| 7 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $133,100 | +42% above national |
| 8 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $130,810 | +39% above national |
| 9 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $128,440 | +37% above national |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $127,890 | +36% above national |
| 11 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $127,420 | +36% above national |
| 12 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $126,700 | +35% above national |
| 13 | Anchorage, AK | $125,240 | +34% above national |
| 14 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $124,840 | +33% above national |
| 15 | El Centro, CA | $123,970 | +32% above national |
| 16 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $123,820 | +32% above national |
| 17 | Bellingham, WA | $122,840 | +31% above national |
| 18 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $121,100 | +29% above national |
| 19 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $119,350 | +27% above national |
| 20 | Roanoke, VA | $114,050 | +22% above national |
| 21 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $113,360 | +21% above national |
| 22 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $113,340 | +21% above national |
| 23 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $111,860 | +19% above national |
| 24 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $111,530 | +19% above national |
| 25 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $110,760 | +18% above national |
| 26 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $110,750 | +18% above national |
| 27 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $110,150 | +17% above national |
| 28 | Fresno, CA | $109,720 | +17% above national |
| 29 | Springfield, MA | $109,510 | +17% above national |
| 30 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $109,500 | +17% above national |
| 31 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $109,460 | +17% above national |
| 32 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $109,300 | +17% above national |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $109,300 | +17% above national |
| 34 | Sandusky, OH | $109,300 | +17% above national |
| 35 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $109,300 | +17% above national |
| 36 | Yakima, WA | $108,890 | +16% above national |
| 37 | Vallejo, CA | $108,430 | +16% above national |
| 38 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $108,350 | +16% above national |
| 39 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $108,350 | +16% above national |
| 40 | Rochester, NY | $107,660 | +15% above national |
| 41 | Reno, NV | $107,470 | +15% above national |
| 42 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $107,350 | +14% above national |
| 43 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $106,870 | +14% above national |
| 44 | San Angelo, TX | $106,580 | +14% above national |
| 45 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $106,440 | +13% above national |
| 46 | Las Cruces, NM | $106,330 | +13% above national |
| 47 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $106,330 | +13% above national |
| 48 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $106,330 | +13% above national |
| 49 | Grand Junction, CO | $106,270 | +13% above national |
| 50 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $106,110 | +13% above national |
| 51 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $106,110 | +13% above national |
| 52 | Pueblo, CO | $106,000 | +13% above national |
| 53 | Salinas, CA | $105,990 | +13% above national |
| 54 | Ann Arbor, MI | $105,780 | +13% above national |
| 55 | Tucson, AZ | $105,350 | +12% above national |
| 56 | Omaha, NE-IA | $105,310 | +12% above national |
| 57 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $104,990 | +12% above national |
| 58 | Rockford, IL | $104,150 | +11% above national |
| 59 | Modesto, CA | $104,000 | +11% above national |
| 60 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $103,780 | +11% above national |
| 61 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $103,540 | +10% above national |
| 62 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $103,380 | +10% above national |
| 63 | Boulder, CO | $103,360 | +10% above national |
| 64 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $103,260 | +10% above national |
| 65 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $103,140 | +10% above national |
| 66 | Bend, OR | $103,000 | +10% above national |
| 67 | Vineland, NJ | $102,980 | +10% above national |
| 68 | Madison, WI | $102,780 | +10% above national |
| 69 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $102,710 | +10% above national |
| 70 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,260 | +9% above national |
| 71 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $101,500 | +8% above national |
| 72 | Barnstable Town, MA | $100,680 | +7% above national |
| 73 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $99,860 | +6% above national |
| 74 | Lincoln, NE | $99,760 | +6% above national |
| 75 | Missoula, MT | $99,560 | +6% above national |
| 76 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,080 | +6% above national |
| 77 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $99,010 | +6% above national |
| 78 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $98,860 | +5% above national |
| 79 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $98,700 | +5% above national |
| 80 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $98,690 | +5% above national |
| 81 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $98,620 | +5% above national |
| 82 | Syracuse, NY | $98,390 | +5% above national |
| 83 | Greeley, CO | $98,370 | +5% above national |
| 84 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $98,350 | +5% above national |
| 85 | Mobile, AL | $98,310 | +5% above national |
| 86 | Laredo, TX | $98,180 | +5% above national |
| 87 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $97,990 | +4% above national |
| 88 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $97,950 | +4% above national |
| 89 | Salem, OR | $97,750 | +4% above national |
| 90 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $97,580 | +4% above national |
| 91 | Lancaster, PA | $97,190 | +4% above national |
| 92 | New Haven, CT | $96,790 | +3% above national |
| 93 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $96,760 | +3% above national |
| 94 | Flint, MI | $96,740 | +3% above national |
| 95 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $96,740 | +3% above national |
| 96 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $96,740 | +3% above national |
| 97 | Erie, PA | $96,470 | +3% above national |
| 98 | Lynchburg, VA | $96,430 | +3% above national |
| 99 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $96,410 | +3% above national |
| 100 | York-Hanover, PA | $96,070 | +2% above national |
| 101 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $95,820 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Reading, PA | $95,190 | +1% above national |
| 103 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $95,150 | +1% above national |
| 104 | Pittsburgh, PA | $95,120 | +1% above national |
| 105 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $95,110 | +1% above national |
| 106 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $94,800 | +1% above national |
| 107 | Yuma, AZ | $94,520 | +1% above national |
| 108 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $94,520 | +1% above national |
| 109 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $94,470 | +1% above national |
| 110 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $94,470 | +1% above national |
| 111 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $94,460 | +1% above national |
| 112 | Redding, CA | $94,280 | +1% above national |
| 113 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $93,790 | same as national |
| 114 | Charlottesville, VA | $93,160 | 1% below national |
| 115 | Lawrence, KS | $93,020 | 1% below national |
| 116 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $92,910 | 1% below national |
| 117 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $92,730 | 1% below national |
| 118 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $92,420 | 1% below national |
| 119 | Charleston, WV | $92,410 | 1% below national |
| 120 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $92,410 | 1% below national |
| 121 | Jacksonville, NC | $92,410 | 1% below national |
| 122 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $92,410 | 1% below national |
| 123 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $92,250 | 2% below national |
| 124 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $92,110 | 2% below national |
| 125 | Appleton, WI | $92,030 | 2% below national |
| 126 | Kenosha, WI | $91,820 | 2% below national |
| 127 | Eagle Pass, TX | $91,560 | 2% below national |
| 128 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $91,490 | 2% below national |
| 129 | Binghamton, NY | $91,470 | 2% below national |
| 130 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $91,360 | 3% below national |
| 131 | Huntsville, AL | $91,230 | 3% below national |
| 132 | Richmond, VA | $91,080 | 3% below national |
| 133 | Utica-Rome, NY | $90,430 | 4% below national |
| 134 | State College, PA | $90,250 | 4% below national |
| 135 | Corpus Christi, TX | $89,970 | 4% below national |
| 136 | Cleveland, OH | $89,300 | 5% below national |
| 137 | Worcester, MA | $89,270 | 5% below national |
| 138 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $89,210 | 5% below national |
| 139 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $88,790 | 5% below national |
| 140 | Springfield, IL | $88,790 | 5% below national |
| 141 | Wausau, WI | $88,780 | 5% below national |
| 142 | Bangor, ME | $88,710 | 5% below national |
| 143 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $88,610 | 6% below national |
| 144 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $88,450 | 6% below national |
| 145 | Ogden, UT | $88,270 | 6% below national |
| 146 | Kingston, NY | $87,990 | 6% below national |
| 147 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $87,500 | 7% below national |
| 148 | Wichita, KS | $87,280 | 7% below national |
| 149 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $86,510 | 8% below national |
| 150 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $86,440 | 8% below national |
| 151 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $86,390 | 8% below national |
| 152 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $86,110 | 8% below national |
| 153 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $86,110 | 8% below national |
| 154 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $86,000 | 8% below national |
| 155 | Colorado Springs, CO | $85,750 | 9% below national |
| 156 | Visalia, CA | $85,740 | 9% below national |
| 157 | Fargo, ND-MN | $85,300 | 9% below national |
| 158 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $85,300 | 9% below national |
| 159 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $84,900 | 9% below national |
| 160 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $84,800 | 10% below national |
| 161 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $84,660 | 10% below national |
| 162 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $84,600 | 10% below national |
| 163 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $84,520 | 10% below national |
| 164 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $84,370 | 10% below national |
| 165 | Green Bay, WI | $84,190 | 10% below national |
| 166 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $83,830 | 11% below national |
| 167 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $83,680 | 11% below national |
| 168 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $83,620 | 11% below national |
| 169 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $83,620 | 11% below national |
| 170 | Boise City, ID | $83,050 | 11% below national |
| 171 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $82,690 | 12% below national |
| 172 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $82,530 | 12% below national |
| 173 | Tulsa, OK | $82,420 | 12% below national |
| 174 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $82,280 | 12% below national |
| 175 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $81,890 | 13% below national |
| 176 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $81,890 | 13% below national |
| 177 | Oklahoma City, OK | $81,720 | 13% below national |
| 178 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $81,660 | 13% below national |
| 179 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $81,500 | 13% below national |
| 180 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $81,470 | 13% below national |
| 181 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $81,200 | 13% below national |
| 182 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $80,930 | 14% below national |
| 183 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $80,770 | 14% below national |
| 184 | Battle Creek, MI | $80,680 | 14% below national |
| 185 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $80,260 | 14% below national |
| 186 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $80,180 | 15% below national |
| 187 | Saginaw, MI | $80,140 | 15% below national |
| 188 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $79,770 | 15% below national |
| 189 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $79,750 | 15% below national |
| 190 | Tyler, TX | $79,710 | 15% below national |
| 191 | Birmingham, AL | $79,560 | 15% below national |
| 192 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $79,560 | 15% below national |
| 193 | Glens Falls, NY | $79,560 | 15% below national |
| 194 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $79,480 | 15% below national |
| 195 | Bowling Green, KY | $79,360 | 15% below national |
| 196 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $79,080 | 16% below national |
| 197 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $79,030 | 16% below national |
| 198 | Columbus, OH | $79,000 | 16% below national |
| 199 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $78,970 | 16% below national |
| 200 | Lawton, OK | $78,920 | 16% below national |
| 201 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $78,920 | 16% below national |
| 202 | Midland, TX | $78,920 | 16% below national |
| 203 | Minot, ND | $78,920 | 16% below national |
| 204 | Evansville, IN | $78,890 | 16% below national |
| 205 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $78,620 | 16% below national |
| 206 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $78,610 | 16% below national |
| 207 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $78,610 | 16% below national |
| 208 | Knoxville, TN | $78,600 | 16% below national |
| 209 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $78,490 | 16% below national |
| 210 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $78,460 | 16% below national |
| 211 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $78,410 | 16% below national |
| 212 | Eau Claire, WI | $78,310 | 17% below national |
| 213 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $78,200 | 17% below national |
| 214 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $77,960 | 17% below national |
| 215 | Rapid City, SD | $77,730 | 17% below national |
| 216 | Flagstaff, AZ | $77,680 | 17% below national |
| 217 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $77,650 | 17% below national |
| 218 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $77,410 | 17% below national |
| 219 | Duluth, MN-WI | $77,330 | 18% below national |
| 220 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $77,250 | 18% below national |
| 221 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $77,210 | 18% below national |
| 222 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $76,730 | 18% below national |
| 223 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $76,730 | 18% below national |
| 224 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $76,320 | 19% below national |
| 225 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $76,310 | 19% below national |
| 226 | Akron, OH | $76,230 | 19% below national |
| 227 | Santa Fe, NM | $76,230 | 19% below national |
| 228 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $75,850 | 19% below national |
| 229 | Jackson, TN | $75,610 | 19% below national |
| 230 | Toledo, OH | $75,610 | 19% below national |
| 231 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $75,550 | 19% below national |
| 232 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $75,420 | 20% below national |
| 233 | Rochester, MN | $75,100 | 20% below national |
| 234 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $74,990 | 20% below national |
| 235 | Amarillo, TX | $74,980 | 20% below national |
| 236 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $74,920 | 20% below national |
| 237 | Fort Wayne, IN | $74,820 | 20% below national |
| 238 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $74,600 | 20% below national |
| 239 | Jacksonville, FL | $74,580 | 20% below national |
| 240 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $74,390 | 21% below national |
| 241 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $74,380 | 21% below national |
| 242 | Warner Robins, GA | $74,250 | 21% below national |
| 243 | Johnson City, TN | $74,020 | 21% below national |
| 244 | Helena, MT | $73,950 | 21% below national |
| 245 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $73,920 | 21% below national |
| 246 | Peoria, IL | $73,700 | 21% below national |
| 247 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $73,650 | 21% below national |
| 248 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $73,520 | 22% below national |
| 249 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $73,430 | 22% below national |
| 250 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $73,420 | 22% below national |
| 251 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $73,400 | 22% below national |
| 252 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $73,220 | 22% below national |
| 253 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $73,060 | 22% below national |
| 254 | Traverse City, MI | $73,050 | 22% below national |
| 255 | Billings, MT | $72,880 | 22% below national |
| 256 | Lubbock, TX | $72,820 | 22% below national |
| 257 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $72,800 | 22% below national |
| 258 | Savannah, GA | $72,460 | 23% below national |
| 259 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $72,420 | 23% below national |
| 260 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $72,180 | 23% below national |
| 261 | Twin Falls, ID | $72,150 | 23% below national |
| 262 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $72,060 | 23% below national |
| 263 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $71,680 | 24% below national |
| 264 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $71,460 | 24% below national |
| 265 | Waco, TX | $70,990 | 24% below national |
| 266 | Albany, GA | $70,930 | 24% below national |
| 267 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $70,760 | 25% below national |
| 268 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $70,760 | 25% below national |
| 269 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $70,740 | 25% below national |
| 270 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $70,740 | 25% below national |
| 271 | Montgomery, AL | $70,710 | 25% below national |
| 272 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $70,590 | 25% below national |
| 273 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $70,520 | 25% below national |
| 274 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $69,900 | 25% below national |
| 275 | Farmington, NM | $69,640 | 26% below national |
| 276 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $69,450 | 26% below national |
| 277 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $69,360 | 26% below national |
| 278 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $68,930 | 27% below national |
| 279 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $68,790 | 27% below national |
| 280 | Pocatello, ID | $68,720 | 27% below national |
| 281 | Jackson, MS | $68,520 | 27% below national |
| 282 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $68,520 | 27% below national |
| 283 | St. Cloud, MN | $68,490 | 27% below national |
| 284 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $68,120 | 27% below national |
| 285 | Rocky Mount, NC | $67,970 | 28% below national |
| 286 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $67,750 | 28% below national |
| 287 | Gainesville, FL | $66,350 | 29% below national |
| 288 | Columbia, SC | $66,340 | 29% below national |
| 289 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $66,140 | 29% below national |
| 290 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $65,980 | 30% below national |
| 291 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $65,550 | 30% below national |
| 292 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $65,040 | 31% below national |
| 293 | Monroe, LA | $65,010 | 31% below national |
| 294 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $64,980 | 31% below national |
| 295 | Bismarck, ND | $64,640 | 31% below national |
| 296 | Fayetteville, NC | $64,590 | 31% below national |
| 297 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $64,590 | 31% below national |
| 298 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $64,430 | 31% below national |
| 299 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $64,390 | 31% below national |
| 300 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $64,360 | 31% below national |
| 301 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $64,320 | 31% below national |
| 302 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $64,140 | 32% below national |
| 303 | Longview, TX | $63,950 | 32% below national |
| 304 | Springfield, MO | $63,920 | 32% below national |
| 305 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $63,910 | 32% below national |
| 306 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $63,810 | 32% below national |
| 307 | Burlington, NC | $63,780 | 32% below national |
| 308 | Baton Rouge, LA | $63,760 | 32% below national |
| 309 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $63,130 | 33% below national |
| 310 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $63,110 | 33% below national |
| 311 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $62,980 | 33% below national |
| 312 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $62,700 | 33% below national |
| 313 | Wilmington, NC | $62,580 | 33% below national |
| 314 | Gainesville, GA | $62,520 | 33% below national |
| 315 | Asheville, NC | $62,460 | 33% below national |
| 316 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $62,430 | 33% below national |
| 317 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $62,320 | 34% below national |
| 318 | Winston-Salem, NC | $62,260 | 34% below national |
| 319 | Alexandria, LA | $62,030 | 34% below national |
| 320 | Spartanburg, SC | $61,920 | 34% below national |
| 321 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $61,730 | 34% below national |
| 322 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $61,670 | 34% below national |
| 323 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $61,500 | 34% below national |
| 324 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $61,300 | 35% below national |
| 325 | Greenville, NC | $61,220 | 35% below national |
| 326 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $61,210 | 35% below national |
| 327 | Columbia, MO | $61,170 | 35% below national |
| 328 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $61,140 | 35% below national |
| 329 | Lafayette, LA | $60,820 | 35% below national |
| 330 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $60,630 | 35% below national |
| 331 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $60,550 | 35% below national |
| 332 | Ocala, FL | $60,470 | 36% below national |
| 333 | Hinesville, GA | $60,150 | 36% below national |
| 334 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $60,110 | 36% below national |
| 335 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $60,100 | 36% below national |
| 336 | Abilene, TX | $59,980 | 36% below national |
| 337 | Sebring, FL | $59,890 | 36% below national |
| 338 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $59,640 | 36% below national |
| 339 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $59,470 | 37% below national |
| 340 | Hammond, LA | $59,400 | 37% below national |
| 341 | Goldsboro, NC | $59,390 | 37% below national |
| 342 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,360 | 37% below national |
| 343 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $59,240 | 37% below national |
| 344 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $59,120 | 37% below national |
| 345 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $59,080 | 37% below national |
| 346 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $58,850 | 37% below national |
| 347 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $58,610 | 38% below national |
| 348 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $58,410 | 38% below national |
| 349 | Tallahassee, FL | $58,410 | 38% below national |
| 350 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $58,300 | 38% below national |
| 351 | Lake Charles, LA | $58,240 | 38% below national |
| 352 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $58,210 | 38% below national |
| 353 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $58,090 | 38% below national |
| 354 | Victoria, TX | $58,030 | 38% below national |
| 355 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $57,970 | 38% below national |
| 356 | Topeka, KS | $57,700 | 38% below national |
| 357 | Hattiesburg, MS | $57,420 | 39% below national |
| 358 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $57,220 | 39% below national |
| 359 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $57,200 | 39% below national |
| 360 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $57,060 | 39% below national |
| 361 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $56,920 | 39% below national |
| 362 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $56,910 | 39% below national |
| 363 | Jefferson City, MO | $56,870 | 39% below national |
| 364 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $56,800 | 39% below national |
| 365 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $56,710 | 40% below national |
| 366 | Sumter, SC | $56,500 | 40% below national |
| 367 | Terre Haute, IN | $56,320 | 40% below national |
| 368 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $56,270 | 40% below national |
| 369 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $56,090 | 40% below national |
| 370 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $56,090 | 40% below national |
| 371 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $55,950 | 40% below national |
| 372 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $55,730 | 41% below national |
| 373 | Valdosta, GA | $55,520 | 41% below national |
| 374 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $55,490 | 41% below national |
| 375 | Florence, SC | $55,320 | 41% below national |
| 376 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $54,740 | 42% below national |
| 377 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $53,380 | 43% below national |
| 378 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $52,850 | 44% below national |
| 379 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $52,540 | 44% below national |
| 380 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $51,920 | 45% below national |
| 381 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $51,900 | 45% below national |
| 382 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $50,700 | 46% below national |
| 383 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $50,420 | 46% below national |
| 384 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $50,420 | 46% below national |
| 385 | Columbus, GA-AL | $50,080 | 47% below national |
| 386 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $49,910 | 47% below national |
| 387 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,810 | 47% below national |
| 388 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $49,710 | 47% below national |
| 389 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $49,600 | 47% below national |
| 390 | Joplin, MO-KS | $49,200 | 48% below national |
| 391 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,110 | 48% below national |
| 392 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $49,050 | 48% below national |
| 393 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $48,270 | 49% below national |
| 394 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,480 | 49% below national |
| 395 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $46,990 | 50% below national |
| 396 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $45,930 | 51% below national |
| 397 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $43,180 | 54% below national |
| 398 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $40,900 | 56% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Detectives and Criminal Investigators make? ▼
The median annual salary for Detectives and Criminal Investigators is $93,790 ($45.09/hour). The salary range spans from $55,390 at the 10th percentile to $160,540 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Detectives and Criminal Investigators the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Detectives and Criminal Investigators at $160,760/year, which is +71% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Detectives and Criminal Investigators? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Detectives and Criminal Investigators is High school diploma or equivalent. Less than 5 years of related work experience is also typically required. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Detectives and Criminal Investigators? ▼
Detectives and Criminal Investigators has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 7.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.5 per 100 workers.
Is Detectives and Criminal Investigators a good career? ▼
Employment for Detectives and Criminal Investigators is projected to decline 0.7% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 7,800 openings are projected each year.
How does Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay vary by state? ▼
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $160,760/year, while North Carolina pays the least at $63,280/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Detectives and Criminal Investigators? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Detectives and Criminal Investigators is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $158,640/year. BLS reports wage data for 398 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $120,520/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $160,760/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.