How much does a police detective make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $8,133 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $6,434
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 1.8 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 142 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $200,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $123,700 |
| 2. Iceland estimate | $100,500 |
| 3. United States | $97,590 |
| 4. Luxembourg estimate | $96,230 |
| 142. Malawi estimate | $537 |
Similar jobs
Technicians and associate professionals
- Customs officer$80,330
- Tax officer$62,370
- Benefits officer$71,250
- Passport officer$62,670
- Regulatory government associate professionals not elsewhere classified$49,940
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| District of Columbia | $153,200 |
| California | $144,800 |
| New Jersey | $135,300 |
| Alaska | $130,500 |
| Hawaii | $130,300 |
| Delaware | $128,800 |
| Washington | $128,000 |
| Maryland | $121,500 |
| Nevada | $120,400 |
| Oregon | $118,300 |
See all 51 states
| Colorado | $118,100 |
| Illinois | $117,500 |
| New York | $114,300 |
| Virginia | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $105,400 |
| Connecticut | $105,200 |
| Nebraska | $104,500 |
| Arizona | $103,200 |
| Minnesota | $103,000 |
| Vermont | $102,600 |
| Utah | $101,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,600 |
| New Hampshire | $97,520 |
| Texas | $95,160 |
| Michigan | $95,120 |
| Rhode Island | $94,870 |
| Wisconsin | $94,440 |
| Iowa | $94,400 |
| Ohio | $92,790 |
| Florida | $91,490 |
| Montana | $90,970 |
| North Dakota | $90,480 |
| Maine | $90,110 |
| New Mexico | $88,960 |
| Wyoming | $88,700 |
| Missouri | $88,530 |
| Idaho | $85,870 |
| South Dakota | $82,080 |
| Oklahoma | $82,030 |
| Kansas | $80,700 |
| West Virginia | $79,900 |
| North Carolina | $79,670 |
| Kentucky | $77,680 |
| Indiana | $76,730 |
| Tennessee | $75,460 |
| Georgia | $74,380 |
| Alabama | $71,970 |
| South Carolina | $68,390 |
| Louisiana | $66,880 |
| Arkansas | $60,650 |
| Mississippi | $59,520 |
Jobs in this group in the United States
Official name of each one and its median salary a year.
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective | $106,000 |
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police detective make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $8,133 a month, $97,590 a year.
How much does a police detective make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $57,860 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $162,000.
Which country pays a police detective the most?
United States, with a median of $97,590 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a police detective the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $153,200 a year.
Does a police detective make more in the United States or in United Kingdom?
In the United States: $97,590 a year against $89,260 in United Kingdom, 1.1 times more.
Who makes more, a police detective or a customs officer?
A police detective: $97,590 a year against $80,330 for a customs officer, 1.2 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate