State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Detective and Criminal Investigator Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Detectives and Criminal Investigators is $93,790 a year ($45.09/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 0.7% through 2034, with about 7,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 33-3021Protective ServiceLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $93,790
- Projected growth
- -0.7%
- Openings a year
- 7,800
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), Criminal Investigator, Detective, Fugitive Detective, Fugitive Investigator, Investigator.
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make?
10th percentile$55,390
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$69,330
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$93,790
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$120,520
Upper quartile
90th percentile$160,540
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $93,790 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $45.09/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $99,430 |
| People employed | 114,430 |
Versus all US occupations
At $93,790, Detectives and Criminal Investigators earn 84% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $42,810 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $59,110, this is 59% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $160,540 or more while the bottom 10% earn $55,390, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 74% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $160,760, and still leads at $146,277 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Detectives and Criminal Investigators the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $160,760 | $146,277 | 2,980 |
| Maryland | $126,730 | $120,742 | 1,010 |
| California | $124,840 | $112,753 | 12,610 |
| Delaware | $122,050 | $122,285 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 | $106,888 | 3,080 |
| Washington | $115,790 | $108,202 | 1,850 |
| Alaska | $114,940 | $112,291 | 140 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 | $103,628 | 440 |
| Virginia | $112,760 | $111,529 | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 | $104,154 | 1,300 |
Is Detective and Criminal Investigator a growing career?
Detectives and Criminal Investigators-0.7%
All US occupations3.1%
-0.7% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Declining
BLS projects employment of Detectives and Criminal Investigators to change -0.7% over 2024–2034, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.1%. That is 800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,800 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 117,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of police and detectives varies by occupation (see table).
A desire for public safety may result in a need for more officers. However, demand for employment is expected to vary by location, driven largely by local and state budgets. Even when crime rates fall, demand for police services to maintain public safety is expected to continue.
How to become a Detective and Criminal Investigator
The education typically required to enter the occupation ranges from a high school diploma to a college degree. Most police and detectives must graduate from their agency’s training academy before completing a period of on-the-job training. Other requirements vary, but candidates usually must be at least 21 years old and able to meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications. A felony conviction or drug use may disqualify a candidate.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | Less than 5 years |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as detectives and criminal investigators.
- High School Diploma32.5%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)20.0%
- Post-Secondary Certificate19.7%
- Some College Courses17.9%
- Bachelor's Degree10.0%
What does a Detective and Criminal Investigator do?
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators, who are sometimes called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of crimes.
Day-to-day tasks
- Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities.
- Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
- Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
- Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.
- Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.
- Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
- Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.4/5
- Speaking4.3/5
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Active Learning3.5/5
- Writing3.4/5
- Monitoring3.4/5
- Learning Strategies2.8/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Service Orientation3.5/5
- Persuasion3.1/5
- Negotiation3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software
- Geographic information system
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Detective and Criminal Investigator?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.2
Investigativeprimary4.9
Artistic1.2
Social2.7
Enterprising4.0
Conventionalprimary4.8
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Detective and Criminal Investigator: frequently asked questions
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make?
Detectives and Criminal Investigators earn a median of $93,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 84% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $45.09/hr. The middle half earn between $69,330 and $120,520. The top 10% earn $160,540 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Detective and Criminal Investigator?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Detectives and Criminal Investigators. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 32.5% hold high school diploma.
Is Detective and Criminal Investigator a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 0.7% over 2024–2034, a loss of 800 jobs (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 7,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Detective and Criminal Investigator do?
Police officers protect lives and property. A core O*NET task: record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Detectives and Criminal Investigators the most?
The highest state medians for Detectives and Criminal Investigators are District of Columbia ($160,760), Maryland ($126,730), California ($124,840) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Detective and Criminal Investigator?
O*NET scores Detectives and Criminal Investigators highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.