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

$95,150a year

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area. That is $45.75 an hour or $7,929 a month.

Hourly: $45.75
Vs. national median: +1%
Rank among cities: 88 of 288
Jobs in the area: 850

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $60,410Median: $95,150Highest 10%: $151,500

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$60,410	$29.04
25th	$83,850	$40.31
Median	$95,150	$45.75
75th	$114,300	$54.95
90th	$151,500	$72.84

Other cities in New York

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators.

Kiryas Joel, NY	$111,900
Rochester, NY	$107,700
New York, NY	$106,400
Watertown, NY	$106,100
Albany, NY	$99,010
Syracuse, NY	$98,390
Binghamton, NY	$91,470
Utica, NY	$90,430
Kingston, NY	$87,990

Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in New York Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in all states

Related jobs in Buffalo

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$103,300
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$99,260
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$93,600
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$84,350
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$80,950
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$76,170
Firefighter	$74,470
Bailiff	$73,660
Transportation Security Screener	$63,900
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$60,910

Salaries for every job in Buffalo, NY

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly pay in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $45.75 ($95,150 a year).

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

Yes: $95,150 against $93,790 nationally, 1% more.

How does Buffalo compare with the rest of New York?

The median in New York is $101,200, so Buffalo pays 6% less.

Where does Buffalo rank for detective and criminal investigator pay?

88 of 288 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $60,410 or less a year; the top 10% make $151,500 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.