How much does a detective and criminal investigator make in Houston?
Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. That is $41.53 an hour or $7,199 a month.
- Hourly
- $41.53
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 127 of 288
- Jobs in the area
- 1,870
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,630 | $26.26 | |
| 25th | $65,070 | $31.28 | |
| Median | $86,390 | $41.53 | |
| 75th | $151,900 | $73.03 | |
| 90th | $187,400 | $90.07 |
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 |
| Dallas, TX | $86,110 |
| San Antonio, TX | $83,830 |
| Tyler, TX | $79,710 |
| Austin, TX | $78,970 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Houston
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Houston, TXFrequently asked questions
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make an hour in Houston?
The median hourly pay in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $41.53 ($86,390 a year).
Do detective and criminal investigators make more in Houston than the national average?
No: $86,390 against $93,790 nationally, 8% less.
How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas?
The median in Texas is $90,510, so Houston pays 5% less.
Where does Houston rank for detective and criminal investigator pay?
127 of 288 metro areas with data.
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make starting out in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $54,630 or less a year; the top 10% make $187,400 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.