How much does a detective and criminal investigator make in Columbus?
$79,000a year
Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators in the Columbus, OH metro area. That is $37.98 an hour or $6,583 a month.
- Hourly
- $37.98
- Vs. national median
- -16%
- Rank among cities
- 158 of 288
- Jobs in the area
- 540
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $56,840Median: $79,000Highest 10%: $142,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,840 | $27.33 | |
| 25th | $65,350 | $31.42 | |
| Median | $79,000 | $37.98 | |
| 75th | $106,100 | $51.02 | |
| 90th | $142,000 | $68.28 |
Other cities in Ohio
Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators.
| Sandusky, OH | $109,300 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $92,110 |
| Cleveland, OH | $89,300 |
| Dayton, OH | $83,620 |
| Youngstown, OH | $77,410 |
| Akron, OH | $76,230 |
| Toledo, OH | $75,610 |
Related jobs in Columbus
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Columbus, OHFrequently asked questions
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make an hour in Columbus?
The median hourly pay in the Columbus, OH metro area is $37.98 ($79,000 a year).
Do detective and criminal investigators make more in Columbus than the national average?
No: $79,000 against $93,790 nationally, 16% less.
How does Columbus compare with the rest of Ohio?
The median in Ohio is $79,300, so Columbus pays 0% more.
Where does Columbus rank for detective and criminal investigator pay?
158 of 288 metro areas with data.
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make starting out in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% make $56,840 or less a year; the top 10% make $142,000 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.