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

$102,300a year

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $49.16 an hour or $8,522 a month.

Hourly: $49.16
Vs. national median: +9%
Rank among cities: 61 of 288
Jobs in the area: 2,290

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $57,300Median: $102,300Highest 10%: $171,800

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$57,300	$27.55
25th	$74,260	$35.70
Median	$102,300	$49.16
75th	$123,800	$59.53
90th	$171,800	$82.59

Other cities in Illinois

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators.

Rockford, IL	$104,200
Springfield, IL	$88,790
St. Louis, MO	$80,930
Davenport, IA	$80,180
Peoria, IL	$73,700
Champaign, IL	$73,430

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

Related jobs in Chicago

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$135,100
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$126,200
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$107,800
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$105,500
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$90,920
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$84,550
Firefighter	$82,820
Transportation Security Screener	$70,570
Private Detective and Investigator	$68,310
Fire Inspector and Investigator	$62,400

Salaries for every job in Chicago, IL

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49.16 ($102,300 a year).

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

Yes: $102,300 against $93,790 nationally, 9% more.

How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?

The median in Illinois is $91,190, so Chicago pays 12% more.

Where does Chicago rank for detective and criminal investigator pay?

61 of 288 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $57,300 or less a year; the top 10% make $171,800 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.