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

$78,410a year

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. That is $37.70 an hour or $6,534 a month.

Hourly
$37.70
Vs. national median
-16%
Rank among cities
168 of 288
Jobs in the area
190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $53,160Median: $78,410Highest 10%: $171,300
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$53,160$25.56
25th$58,990$28.36
Median$78,410$37.70
75th$149,300$71.77
90th$171,300$82.33

Other cities in South Carolina

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators.

Myrtle Beach, SC$72,060
Charlotte, NC$71,460
Columbia, SC$66,340
Augusta, GA$64,980
Greenville, SC$62,700
Florence, SC$55,320
Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in South Carolina Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in all states

Related jobs in Charleston

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$81,800
Crossing Guard and Flagger$73,990
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$73,280
Transportation Security Screener$61,110
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$60,570
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$58,720
Correctional Officer and Jailer$52,300
Protective Service Worker$51,890
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$51,800
Firefighter$46,830
Salaries for every job in Charleston, SC

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly pay in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $37.70 ($78,410 a year).

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

No: $78,410 against $93,790 nationally, 16% less.

How does Charleston compare with the rest of South Carolina?

The median in South Carolina is $62,760, so Charleston pays 25% more.

Where does Charleston rank for detective and criminal investigator pay?

168 of 288 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $53,160 or less a year; the top 10% make $171,300 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.