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

$102,800a year

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $49.41 an hour or $8,565 a month.

Hourly: $49.41
Vs. national median: +10%
Rank among cities: 59 of 288
Jobs in the area: 280

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $77,230Median: $102,800Highest 10%: $109,300

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$77,230	$37.13
25th	$84,360	$40.56
Median	$102,800	$49.41
75th	$102,800	$49.41
90th	$109,300	$52.55

Other cities in Wisconsin

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators.

Milwaukee, WI	$92,910
Appleton, WI	$92,030
Kenosha, WI	$91,820
Racine, WI	$89,210
Minneapolis, MN	$85,300
Green Bay, WI	$84,190
Eau Claire, WI	$78,310
Duluth, MN	$77,330

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

Related jobs in Madison

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$117,100
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$100,400
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$85,180
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$80,580
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$76,250
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$60,710
Protective Service Worker	$59,140
Firefighter	$56,430
Transportation Security Screener	$49,940
Crossing Guard and Flagger	$44,840

Salaries for every job in Madison, WI

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $49.41 ($102,800 a year).

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

Yes: $102,800 against $93,790 nationally, 10% more.

How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?

The median in Wisconsin is $91,040, so Madison pays 13% more.

Where does Madison rank for detective and criminal investigator pay?

59 of 288 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $77,230 or less a year; the top 10% make $109,300 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.