BLS metro-level wage data places Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area at a median of $103,260 per year ($49.64/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $93,790, Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area pays +10% above, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 50 detectives and criminal investigatorss are employed across the Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area MSA in SOC 33-3021.

The Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area pay distribution spans from $50,480 at the 10th percentile to $132,120 at the 90th — a 2.6× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $63,810 and the 75th at $117,780, so half of Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area-based detectives and criminal investigatorss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide CA data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.