How much does a detective and criminal investigator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $45.09 an hour or $7,816 a month.
- Hourly
- $45.09
- Average (mean)
- $99,430
- Jobs
- 114,430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,390 | $26.63 | |
| 25th | $69,330 | $33.33 | |
| Median | $93,790 | $45.09 | |
| 75th | $120,500 | $57.94 | |
| 90th | $160,500 | $77.18 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $160,800 |
| Maryland | $126,700 |
| California | $124,800 |
| Delaware | $122,100 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 |
| Washington | $115,800 |
| Alaska | $114,900 |
| Hawaii | $113,900 |
| Virginia | $112,800 |
| Massachusetts | $110,200 |
| Oregon | $107,500 |
| Vermont | $106,300 |
| Colorado | $105,500 |
| Arizona | $102,300 |
| New York | $101,200 |
| Nebraska | $100,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,580 |
| Connecticut | $95,240 |
| Nevada | $94,470 |
| Montana | $92,410 |
| West Virginia | $92,410 |
| Illinois | $91,190 |
| Wisconsin | $91,040 |
| Michigan | $90,650 |
| Texas | $90,510 |
| New Hampshire | $89,290 |
| Rhode Island | $88,450 |
| Maine | $88,310 |
| New Mexico | $86,840 |
| North Dakota | $82,290 |
| Wyoming | $81,880 |
| Oklahoma | $80,430 |
| Minnesota | $80,000 |
| Iowa | $79,560 |
| Ohio | $79,300 |
| Utah | $78,920 |
| South Dakota | $77,730 |
| Tennessee | $77,090 |
| Florida | $77,060 |
| Kansas | $75,740 |
| Missouri | $75,650 |
| Idaho | $72,520 |
| Kentucky | $71,670 |
| Indiana | $70,340 |
| Alabama | $66,290 |
| Georgia | $65,430 |
| North Carolina | $63,280 |
| South Carolina | $62,760 |
| Louisiana | $60,450 |
| Mississippi | $58,640 |
| Arkansas | $54,500 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $158,600 |
| Brunswick, GA | $158,100 |
| Washington, DC | $156,800 |
| Oxnard, CA | $153,600 |
| Honolulu, HI | $140,800 |
| Great Falls, MT | $136,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $133,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $130,800 |
| Baltimore, MD | $128,400 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $127,900 |
| Riverside, CA | $127,400 |
| San Francisco, CA | $126,700 |
| Anchorage, AK | $125,200 |
| San Diego, CA | $124,800 |
| El Centro, CA | $124,000 |
In other countries
Detective and Criminal Investigator belongs to the international group "Police inspectors and detectives".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Bailiff$56,600
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- Fish and Game Warden$74,060
- Parking Enforcement Worker$46,730
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$76,210
- Transit and Railroad Police$90,230
Federal law enforcement pay
Federal officers are paid on the General Schedule with special base rates at GS-3 to GS-10, set by OPM.
LEO pay scale 2026Frequently asked questions
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $45.09 ($93,790 a year).
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make a month?
About $7,816 a month before tax, based on a median of $93,790 a year.
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $55,390 or less a year ($26.63 an hour); the top 10% make $160,500 or more.
Which state pays detective and criminal investigators the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $160,800 a year, followed by Maryland ($126,700) and California ($124,800).
Which city pays detective and criminal investigators the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $158,600 a year.
How many detective and criminal investigators are there in the United States?
About 114,430 people work as detective and criminal investigators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.