How much does a detective and criminal investigator make in Austin?

$78,970a year

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area. That is $37.97 an hour or $6,581 a month.

Hourly: $37.97
Vs. national median: -16%
Rank among cities: 159 of 288
Jobs in the area: 1,710

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $48,840Median: $78,970Highest 10%: $114,800

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$48,840	$23.48
25th	$58,790	$28.26
Median	$78,970	$37.97
75th	$99,220	$47.70
90th	$114,800	$55.19

Other cities in Texas

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators.

Brownsville, TX	$109,300
El Paso, TX	$109,300
San Angelo, TX	$106,600
McAllen, TX	$103,400
Laredo, TX	$98,180
Eagle Pass, TX	$91,560
Corpus Christi, TX	$89,970
Houston, TX	$86,390
Dallas, TX	$86,110
San Antonio, TX	$83,830
Tyler, TX	$79,710
Midland, TX	$78,920
Amarillo, TX	$74,980
Lubbock, TX	$72,820
Waco, TX	$70,990
Beaumont, TX	$70,760
Killeen, TX	$70,590
Longview, TX	$63,950
Abilene, TX	$59,980
Victoria, TX	$58,030

Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in Texas Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in all states

Related jobs in Austin

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$129,700
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$99,540
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$96,240
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$82,290
Fire Inspector and Investigator	$80,510
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$76,000
Transportation Security Screener	$62,820
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$59,470
Firefighter	$58,830
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$50,850

Salaries for every job in Austin, TX

Frequently asked questions

How much does a detective and criminal investigator make an hour in Austin?

The median hourly pay in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $37.97 ($78,970 a year).

Do detective and criminal investigators make more in Austin than the national average?

No: $78,970 against $93,790 nationally, 16% less.

How does Austin compare with the rest of Texas?

The median in Texas is $90,510, so Austin pays 13% less.

Where does Austin rank for detective and criminal investigator pay?

159 of 288 metro areas with data.

How much does a detective and criminal investigator make starting out in Austin?

The lowest-paid 10% make $48,840 or less a year; the top 10% make $114,800 or more.

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.