Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for detectives and criminal investigators in the U.S. is $93,790 ($45.09 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $93,790
- Mean annual wage
- $99,430
- Median hourly wage
- $45.09
- Employment
- 114,430
114,430 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,390 | $26.63 |
| 25th percentile | $69,330 | $33.33 |
| Median (50th) | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| 75th percentile | $120,520 | $57.94 |
| 90th percentile | $160,540 | $77.18 |
Highest-paying states for detectives and criminal investigators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $160,760 | 2,980 |
| Maryland | $126,730 | 1,010 |
| California | $124,840 | 12,610 |
| Delaware | $122,050 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 | 3,080 |
| Washington | $115,790 | 1,850 |
| Alaska | $114,940 | 140 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 | 440 |
| Virginia | $112,760 | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 | 1,300 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $54,500 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $58,640 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $60,450 median annual wage
- South Carolina: $62,760 median annual wage
- North Carolina: $63,280 median annual wage
About this occupation
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Typical tasks
- Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.
- Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.
- Summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical personnel to take statements from them.
- Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
- Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
- Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.0% |
| Associate's degree | 9.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 43.8% |
| Master's degree | 17.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 2.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Security Guards$38,020
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,210
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$58,940
- Firefighters$59,280
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,040
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$93,530
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers$38,100
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.