288 metro areas
Detective and Criminal Investigator Salary by City (2026)
Detectives and criminal investigators earn the most in Brunswick, GA, an average of $148,490 a year, against $99,430 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Brunswick, GA ($169,300 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $99,430BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $148,490Brunswick, GA
- Best after cost of living
- $169,300Brunswick, GA
- Metro areas
- 288With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for detectives and criminal investigators
Top 10 metro areas
- Brunswick, GA$148,490
- Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$146,910
- San Jose, CA$144,580
- Oxnard, CA$138,050
- San Francisco, CA$135,470
- Baltimore, MD$134,010
- Bellingham, WA$130,310
- Anchorage, AK$129,810
- Santa Maria, CA$129,750
- Urban Honolulu, HI$129,440
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $148,490 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $146,910 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $144,580 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $138,050 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,470 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $134,010 |
| Bellingham, WA | $130,310 |
| Anchorage, AK | $129,810 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $129,750 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $129,440 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Brunswick, GA$148,490 nominal$169,300
- Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$146,910 nominal$134,920
- San Jose, CA$144,580 nominal$130,930
- Baltimore, MD$134,010 nominal$128,260
- Springfield, MA$122,300 nominal$127,310
- Bellingham, WA$130,310 nominal$126,110
- Great Falls, MT$121,680 nominal$125,640
- Hagerstown, MD-WV$117,940 nominal$125,240
- Sioux Falls, SD-MN$113,240 nominal$124,950
- Oxnard, CA$138,050 nominal$124,890
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $169,300 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $134,920 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $130,930 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $128,260 |
| Springfield, MA | $127,310 |
| Bellingham, WA | $126,110 |
| Great Falls, MT | $125,640 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $125,240 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $124,950 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $124,890 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brunswick, GA | $148,490 | $111,200 | $166,860 | $169,300 |
| 2 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $146,910 | $97,610 | $171,180 | $134,920 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $144,580 | $106,560 | $163,300 | $130,930 |
| 4 | Oxnard, CA | $138,050 | $82,330 | $165,480 | $124,890 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $135,470 | $96,640 | $154,590 | $117,180 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $134,010 | $88,380 | $156,480 | $128,260 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $130,310 | $110,340 | $140,150 | $126,110 |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $129,810 | $80,870 | $153,920 | $123,140 |
| 9 | Santa Maria, CA | $129,750 | $93,720 | $147,470 | $119,260 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $129,440 | $99,670 | $144,080 | $116,650 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $129,420 | $99,260 | $144,270 | $116,460 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $126,590 | $90,520 | $144,350 | $111,470 |
| 13 | Stockton, CA | $126,190 | $96,950 | $140,610 | $120,080 |
| 14 | Manchester, NH | $125,940 | $79,980 | $148,570 | $119,200 |
| 15 | Santa Rosa, CA | $125,820 | $90,750 | $143,100 | $116,730 |
| 16 | Riverside, CA | $124,470 | $94,040 | $139,460 | $116,940 |
| 17 | Bremerton, WA | $124,400 | $91,480 | $140,610 | $117,800 |
| 18 | Portland, OR-WA | $122,910 | $93,060 | $137,610 | $116,590 |
| 19 | Springfield, MA | $122,300 | $79,480 | $143,400 | $127,310 |
| 20 | Great Falls, MT | $121,680 | $71,090 | $146,580 | $125,640 |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $121,200 | $87,300 | $137,920 | $108,320 |
| 22 | Boston, MA-NH | $120,220 | $83,720 | $138,220 | $111,040 |
| 23 | Ann Arbor, MI | $119,520 | $78,690 | $139,630 | $118,480 |
| 24 | Vallejo, CA | $119,180 | $91,190 | $133,000 | $109,860 |
| 25 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $117,940 | $70,640 | $141,230 | $125,240 |
| 26 | Trenton, NJ | $117,060 | $83,910 | $133,390 | $113,450 |
| 27 | Eugene, OR | $116,380 | $88,420 | $130,150 | $114,580 |
| 28 | New Haven, CT | $116,060 | $84,970 | $131,390 | $111,000 |
| 29 | Denver, CO | $115,900 | $87,760 | $129,750 | $109,560 |
| 30 | Salinas, CA | $115,040 | $76,320 | $134,140 | $105,500 |
| 31 | El Centro, CA | $114,940 | $84,570 | $129,900 | $120,770 |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $114,590 | $82,280 | $130,480 | $112,170 |
| 33 | Reno, NV | $114,420 | $79,560 | $131,600 | $113,270 |
| 34 | Spokane, WA | $114,170 | $95,160 | $123,530 | $113,780 |
| 35 | New York, NY-NJ | $113,860 | $68,100 | $136,410 | $101,150 |
| 36 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $113,240 | $68,310 | $135,370 | $124,950 |
| 37 | Sacramento, CA | $112,940 | $76,320 | $131,000 | $105,880 |
| 38 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $112,740 | $88,630 | $124,610 | $103,030 |
| 39 | Bakersfield, CA | $112,690 | $89,070 | $124,320 | $111,700 |
| 40 | Roanoke, VA | $111,430 | $74,090 | $129,790 | $119,030 |
| 41 | Santa Cruz, CA | $111,280 | $87,130 | $123,200 | $101,260 |
| 42 | Omaha, NE-IA | $111,220 | $72,800 | $130,150 | $121,010 |
| 43 | Detroit, MI | $110,910 | $76,610 | $127,800 | $110,580 |
| 44 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $110,140 | $80,390 | $124,800 | $107,400 |
| 45 | Yakima, WA | $109,660 | $74,380 | $127,050 | $114,770 |
| 46 | Miami, FL | $109,390 | $65,640 | $130,940 | $95,830 |
| 47 | Burlington, VT | $109,140 | $74,860 | $126,030 | $108,110 |
| 48 | Missoula, MT | $108,410 | $71,950 | $126,360 | $112,410 |
| 49 | Kennewick, WA | $108,220 | $80,310 | $121,970 | $108,130 |
| 50 | Bend, OR | $108,180 | $93,560 | $115,380 | $104,410 |
| 51 | Phoenix, AZ | $106,390 | $67,770 | $125,420 | $102,980 |
| 52 | Barnstable Town, MA | $106,290 | $83,600 | $117,460 | $108,070 |
| 53 | Flint, MI | $106,120 | $68,520 | $124,630 | $114,070 |
| 54 | Fort Collins, CO | $106,080 | $75,630 | $121,060 | $104,900 |
| 55 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $105,870 | $72,840 | $122,140 | $105,900 |
| 56 | Grand Rapids, MI | $105,870 | $76,020 | $120,560 | $110,810 |
| 57 | Grand Junction, CO | $105,730 | $75,030 | $120,870 | $110,740 |
| 58 | San Angelo, TX | $105,480 | $58,180 | $128,770 | $114,090 |
| 59 | Huntsville, AL | $105,020 | $54,770 | $129,770 | $112,840 |
| 60 | Houston, TX | $104,810 | $59,970 | $126,880 | $106,270 |
| 61 | Worcester, MA | $104,540 | $79,120 | $117,060 | $101,970 |
| 62 | Sandusky, OH | $104,400 | $93,180 | $109,910 | $116,930 |
| 63 | Salem, OR | $103,900 | $72,430 | $119,410 | $100,240 |
| 64 | Chicago, IL-IN | $103,230 | $63,130 | $122,970 | $99,650 |
| 65 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $103,210 | $62,150 | $123,430 | $119,090 |
| 66 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $103,130 | $78,420 | $115,290 | $115,560 |
| 67 | Pittsburgh, PA | $102,630 | $72,570 | $117,440 | $108,410 |
| 68 | Las Vegas, NV | $102,610 | $68,390 | $119,480 | $102,390 |
| 69 | York, PA | $102,590 | $62,880 | $122,140 | $106,860 |
| 70 | Rockford, IL | $102,500 | $73,840 | $116,630 | $111,230 |
| 71 | Cleveland, OH | $102,270 | $63,710 | $121,260 | $108,890 |
| 72 | Atlantic City, NJ | $102,040 | $64,020 | $120,760 | $103,220 |
| 73 | Bowling Green, KY | $101,860 | $52,790 | $126,030 | $112,950 |
| 74 | Buffalo, NY | $101,250 | $72,550 | $115,400 | $105,640 |
| 75 | Lincoln, NE | $101,230 | $71,780 | $115,750 | $110,540 |
| 76 | Tucson, AZ | $101,050 | $68,890 | $116,900 | $104,290 |
| 77 | Bridgeport, CT | $100,820 | $84,910 | $108,660 | $94,340 |
| 78 | Mobile, AL | $100,400 | $51,230 | $124,610 | $113,960 |
| 79 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $100,380 | $60,090 | $120,220 | $102,490 |
| 80 | Watertown, NY | $100,380 | $80,410 | $110,200 | $114,470 |
| 81 | El Paso, TX | $100,110 | $68,850 | $115,480 | $111,340 |
| 82 | Dallas, TX | $99,860 | $55,700 | $121,600 | $96,870 |
| 83 | Modesto, CA | $99,860 | $76,460 | $111,380 | $95,920 |
| 84 | Charleston, SC | $99,800 | $55,060 | $121,850 | $98,850 |
| 85 | Rochester, NY | $99,670 | $69,240 | $114,670 | $102,720 |
| 86 | Charleston, WV | $99,650 | $51,080 | $123,590 | $112,320 |
| 87 | Pueblo, CO | $99,590 | $80,850 | $108,800 | $108,530 |
| 88 | Hartford, CT | $99,510 | $79,310 | $109,450 | $96,850 |
| 89 | Richmond, VA | $99,220 | $69,510 | $113,860 | $101,390 |
| 90 | Lexington, KY | $98,920 | $57,570 | $119,290 | $106,490 |
| 91 | Milwaukee, WI | $98,880 | $80,350 | $108,010 | $102,000 |
| 92 | Jacksonville, FL | $98,610 | $59,010 | $118,120 | $99,120 |
| 93 | Erie, PA | $98,470 | $74,480 | $110,280 | $108,270 |
| 94 | Redding, CA | $98,380 | $58,090 | $118,230 | $97,710 |
| 95 | Tampa, FL | $98,200 | $60,940 | $116,540 | $97,330 |
| 96 | Providence, RI-MA | $98,110 | $74,670 | $109,660 | $96,400 |
| 97 | Dayton, OH | $98,030 | $64,230 | $114,670 | $105,760 |
| 98 | Portland, ME | $97,700 | $69,510 | $111,590 | $95,920 |
| 99 | Ogden, UT | $97,490 | $56,890 | $117,500 | $97,150 |
| 100 | Madison, WI | $97,450 | $78,750 | $106,660 | $100,170 |
| 101 | Albany, NY | $97,430 | $67,950 | $111,950 | $97,850 |
| 102 | Las Cruces, NM | $97,260 | $70,450 | $110,470 | $107,810 |
| 103 | Brownsville, TX | $97,140 | $68,060 | $111,450 | $112,990 |
| 104 | Boulder, CO | $96,870 | $76,020 | $107,120 | $92,080 |
| 105 | Bangor, ME | $96,760 | $70,620 | $109,640 | $100,260 |
| 106 | Laredo, TX | $96,700 | $69,080 | $110,300 | $111,210 |
| 107 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $96,200 | $64,650 | $111,740 | $100,870 |
| 108 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $96,120 | $58,430 | $114,670 | $103,270 |
| 109 | Springfield, IL | $96,080 | $68,100 | $109,870 | $103,600 |
| 110 | Greeley, CO | $96,050 | $68,910 | $109,410 | $95,880 |
| 111 | Colorado Springs, CO | $96,030 | $69,410 | $109,140 | $95,360 |
| 112 | Syracuse, NY | $95,600 | $62,730 | $111,780 | $99,850 |
| 113 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $95,370 | $57,320 | $114,090 | $95,150 |
| 114 | Lansing, MI | $95,240 | $78,190 | $103,650 | $100,260 |
| 115 | Jacksonville, NC | $95,180 | $64,400 | $110,320 | $103,360 |
| 116 | Knoxville, TN | $95,140 | $58,320 | $113,280 | $102,780 |
| 117 | Vineland, NJ | $94,910 | $70,570 | $106,890 | $98,900 |
| 118 | Reading, PA | $94,520 | $82,640 | $100,380 | $97,380 |
| 119 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $94,470 | $60,690 | $111,090 | $102,080 |
| 120 | McAllen, TX | $94,450 | $59,610 | $111,610 | $109,960 |
| 121 | Charlottesville, VA | $94,410 | $63,420 | $109,660 | $95,220 |
| 122 | Lancaster, PA | $94,410 | $78,350 | $102,290 | $96,080 |
| 123 | Kalamazoo, MI | $94,310 | $76,730 | $102,960 | $99,440 |
| 124 | Corpus Christi, TX | $94,220 | $51,670 | $115,190 | $101,670 |
| 125 | Utica, NY | $94,060 | $68,430 | $106,660 | $101,490 |
| 126 | Salt Lake City, UT | $94,000 | $55,270 | $113,070 | $93,190 |
| 127 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $93,850 | $56,830 | $112,090 | $108,560 |
| 128 | Billings, MT | $93,810 | $62,440 | $109,240 | $100,300 |
| 129 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $93,770 | $57,930 | $111,400 | $98,610 |
| 130 | Waterbury, CT | $93,720 | $88,960 | $96,080 | $93,930 |
| 131 | Yuma, AZ | $93,640 | $68,700 | $105,930 | $101,010 |
| 132 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $93,020 | $64,960 | $106,850 | $88,740 |
| 133 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $92,960 | $52,870 | $112,690 | $101,640 |
| 134 | Norwich, CT | $92,810 | $74,050 | $102,070 | $92,400 |
| 135 | State College, PA | $92,520 | $71,720 | $102,750 | $95,620 |
| 136 | Boise City, ID | $92,190 | $57,320 | $109,350 | $93,700 |
| 137 | Minot, ND | $91,920 | $58,450 | $108,410 | $105,620 |
| 138 | Lynchburg, VA | $91,850 | $58,240 | $108,410 | $102,780 |
| 139 | Binghamton, NY | $91,770 | $62,170 | $106,350 | $98,820 |
| 140 | Davenport, IA-IL | $91,710 | $55,540 | $109,530 | $102,950 |
| 141 | Columbus, OH | $90,920 | $60,090 | $106,100 | $95,240 |
| 142 | Birmingham, AL | $90,880 | $50,770 | $110,640 | $99,170 |
| 143 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $90,880 | $55,580 | $108,260 | $98,590 |
| 144 | Tulsa, OK | $90,710 | $55,270 | $108,160 | $101,680 |
| 145 | Rapid City, SD | $90,330 | $64,880 | $102,860 | $101,310 |
| 146 | Kenosha, WI | $89,810 | $83,930 | $92,710 | $88,820 |
| 147 | Oklahoma City, OK | $89,690 | $59,630 | $104,500 | $99,210 |
| 148 | Nashville, TN | $89,590 | $61,050 | $103,670 | $93,000 |
| 149 | Olympia, WA | $89,230 | $73,650 | $96,890 | $86,070 |
| 150 | Pensacola, FL | $89,170 | $50,340 | $108,310 | $91,250 |
| 151 | Hammond, LA | $89,020 | $35,300 | $115,480 | $105,400 |
| 152 | Tyler, TX | $89,000 | $57,840 | $104,330 | $96,580 |
| 153 | Jackson, TN | $88,920 | $56,890 | $104,690 | $103,970 |
| 154 | Wausau, WI | $88,250 | $79,460 | $92,600 | $95,250 |
| 155 | Harrisburg, PA | $88,190 | $63,750 | $100,240 | $89,400 |
| 156 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $87,800 | $55,620 | $103,650 | $90,190 |
| 157 | Green Bay, WI | $87,710 | $57,120 | $102,790 | $94,220 |
| 158 | Appleton, WI | $87,590 | $74,070 | $94,270 | $94,770 |
| 159 | Fargo, ND-MN | $87,510 | $56,970 | $102,520 | $96,300 |
| 160 | Helena, MT | $87,380 | $57,890 | $101,920 | $91,330 |
| 161 | Lawton, OK | $87,260 | $55,160 | $103,060 | $101,530 |
| 162 | Wichita, KS | $87,240 | $63,270 | $99,030 | $98,080 |
| 163 | Akron, OH | $87,210 | $59,180 | $101,030 | $93,400 |
| 164 | Greenville, SC | $87,090 | $56,560 | $102,130 | $93,380 |
| 165 | Des Moines, IA | $87,030 | $61,480 | $99,610 | $94,910 |
| 166 | Indianapolis, IN | $86,860 | $50,460 | $104,790 | $90,770 |
| 167 | Kingston, NY | $86,780 | $66,960 | $96,530 | $86,170 |
| 168 | San Antonio, TX | $86,650 | $60,940 | $99,300 | $91,480 |
| 169 | Scranton, PA | $86,610 | $59,880 | $99,780 | $92,580 |
| 170 | Savannah, GA | $86,440 | $54,040 | $102,400 | $90,790 |
| 171 | Orlando, FL | $86,280 | $50,730 | $103,790 | $85,070 |
| 172 | Duluth, MN-WI | $86,030 | $65,690 | $96,050 | $96,920 |
| 173 | Johnson City, TN | $85,780 | $45,140 | $105,810 | $97,560 |
| 174 | Palm Bay, FL | $85,610 | $44,840 | $105,680 | $85,610 |
| 175 | Battle Creek, MI | $85,550 | $70,180 | $93,140 | $94,490 |
| 176 | Eagle Pass, TX | $85,550 | $58,550 | $98,860 | $102,080 |
| 177 | Midland, TX | $85,530 | $68,220 | $94,060 | $89,300 |
| 178 | Shreveport, LA | $85,240 | $50,880 | $102,170 | $100,560 |
| 179 | Slidell, LA | $84,970 | $43,470 | $105,410 | $91,640 |
| 180 | Blacksburg, VA | $84,930 | $63,000 | $95,720 | $91,610 |
| 181 | Youngstown, OH | $84,930 | $61,190 | $96,620 | $97,180 |
| 182 | Flagstaff, AZ | $84,470 | $59,430 | $96,800 | $84,200 |
| 183 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $84,450 | $59,510 | $96,740 | $92,860 |
| 184 | Racine, WI | $84,360 | $74,670 | $89,150 | $87,910 |
| 185 | Raleigh, NC | $84,340 | $56,660 | $97,970 | $85,920 |
| 186 | New Orleans, LA | $84,220 | $43,680 | $104,210 | $90,950 |
| 187 | Cape Coral, FL | $84,160 | $62,030 | $95,080 | $82,230 |
| 188 | Glens Falls, NY | $83,530 | $58,640 | $95,780 | $88,050 |
| 189 | Eau Claire, WI | $83,450 | $70,840 | $89,670 | $89,930 |
| 190 | Santa Fe, NM | $83,160 | $69,700 | $89,770 | $84,200 |
| 191 | Sherman, TX | $83,120 | $58,430 | $95,280 | $88,640 |
| 192 | Toledo, OH | $83,100 | $57,160 | $95,870 | $90,860 |
| 193 | Evansville, IN | $82,800 | $65,850 | $91,150 | $90,460 |
| 194 | Traverse City, MI | $82,560 | $66,750 | $90,360 | $88,420 |
| 195 | Waco, TX | $82,560 | $58,260 | $94,520 | $89,210 |
| 196 | Panama City, FL | $82,410 | $54,790 | $96,010 | $84,700 |
| 197 | Pocatello, ID | $81,990 | $65,230 | $90,250 | $92,220 |
| 198 | Austin, TX | $81,950 | $53,270 | $96,080 | $83,570 |
| 199 | Janesville, WI | $81,680 | $70,970 | $86,960 | $87,170 |
| 200 | Saginaw, MI | $81,580 | $70,430 | $87,090 | $89,760 |
| 201 | Crestview, FL | $81,220 | $56,930 | $93,200 | $83,710 |
| 202 | Lawrence, KS | $81,180 | $56,990 | $93,080 | $89,960 |
| 203 | Greensboro, NC | $80,680 | $52,040 | $94,790 | $86,880 |
| 204 | Gulfport, MS | $80,410 | $46,280 | $97,220 | $89,340 |
| 205 | Fayetteville, NC | $80,180 | $54,810 | $92,660 | $87,170 |
| 206 | Montgomery, AL | $79,810 | $50,560 | $94,220 | $88,990 |
| 207 | Champaign, IL | $79,640 | $53,330 | $92,600 | $85,910 |
| 208 | Fayetteville, AR | $78,920 | $55,040 | $90,670 | $86,390 |
| 209 | San Juan, PR | $78,710 | $40,440 | $97,550 | N/A |
| 210 | Gainesville, FL | $78,690 | $53,310 | $91,190 | $81,350 |
| 211 | Jackson, MS | $78,350 | $46,630 | $94,000 | $87,990 |
| 212 | Atlanta, GA | $78,150 | $50,290 | $91,870 | $78,100 |
| 213 | Rochester, MN | $78,080 | $56,350 | $88,770 | $85,970 |
| 214 | Wilmington, NC | $78,020 | $56,490 | $88,610 | $80,920 |
| 215 | Visalia, CA | $77,920 | $46,240 | $93,540 | $78,060 |
| 216 | South Bend, IN-MI | $77,770 | $60,360 | $86,340 | $83,750 |
| 217 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $77,670 | $58,220 | $87,240 | $79,050 |
| 218 | Elkhart, IN | $77,580 | $64,520 | $84,010 | $85,890 |
| 219 | Lubbock, TX | $77,580 | $49,570 | $91,370 | $84,960 |
| 220 | Hinesville, GA | $77,400 | $54,450 | $88,690 | $82,400 |
| 221 | Little Rock, AR | $77,380 | $45,720 | $92,980 | $86,590 |
| 222 | Bismarck, ND | $77,290 | $53,710 | $88,920 | $84,910 |
| 223 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $76,480 | $60,880 | $84,160 | $81,670 |
| 224 | Columbus, GA-AL | $76,090 | $42,700 | $92,520 | $85,210 |
| 225 | Fort Wayne, IN | $75,880 | $51,560 | $87,860 | $81,970 |
| 226 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $75,770 | $48,780 | $89,070 | $77,090 |
| 227 | North Port, FL | $75,690 | $51,810 | $87,460 | $73,900 |
| 228 | Columbia, SC | $75,550 | $52,440 | $86,940 | $80,660 |
| 229 | Springfield, MO | $75,170 | $48,510 | $88,320 | $84,860 |
| 230 | Killeen, TX | $74,920 | $49,920 | $87,240 | $82,210 |
| 231 | Augusta, GA-SC | $74,760 | $52,620 | $85,650 | $81,350 |
| 232 | Asheville, NC | $74,690 | $56,240 | $83,780 | $77,390 |
| 233 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $74,460 | $48,130 | $87,440 | $84,210 |
| 234 | Peoria, IL | $73,880 | $42,120 | $89,520 | $80,980 |
| 235 | Macon, GA | $73,840 | $57,100 | $82,100 | $83,410 |
| 236 | College Station, TX | $73,610 | $54,520 | $82,990 | $80,930 |
| 237 | Lafayette, IN | $73,590 | $60,050 | $80,250 | $78,760 |
| 238 | Amarillo, TX | $73,380 | $49,940 | $84,930 | $79,920 |
| 239 | Beaumont, TX | $72,530 | $49,400 | $83,910 | $80,550 |
| 240 | Twin Falls, ID | $72,510 | $57,010 | $80,140 | $78,720 |
| 241 | Warner Robins, GA | $72,160 | $54,540 | $80,810 | $76,940 |
| 242 | Baton Rouge, LA | $71,880 | $46,760 | $84,260 | $79,180 |
| 243 | Durham, NC | $71,820 | $59,800 | $77,750 | $73,610 |
| 244 | Albany, GA | $71,220 | $45,570 | $83,870 | $81,240 |
| 245 | Hattiesburg, MS | $70,620 | $46,070 | $82,700 | $80,590 |
| 246 | Albuquerque, NM | $70,140 | $46,400 | $81,830 | $73,410 |
| 247 | Alexandria, LA | $69,890 | $44,050 | $82,620 | $81,570 |
| 248 | St. Cloud, MN | $69,080 | $55,200 | $75,920 | $78,830 |
| 249 | Lake Charles, LA | $69,060 | $40,560 | $83,080 | $80,440 |
| 250 | Florence, SC | $68,970 | $51,230 | $77,730 | $79,480 |
| 251 | Sebastian, FL | $68,790 | $50,980 | $77,540 | $69,970 |
| 252 | Auburn, AL | $68,720 | $54,350 | $75,800 | $78,150 |
| 253 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $68,310 | $49,380 | $77,630 | $77,870 |
| 254 | Lakeland, FL | $68,100 | $55,410 | $74,340 | $70,100 |
| 255 | Anniston, AL | $68,060 | $46,920 | $78,460 | $79,190 |
| 256 | Gainesville, GA | $67,910 | $53,160 | $75,170 | $70,180 |
| 257 | Longview, TX | $66,890 | $50,630 | $74,880 | $74,750 |
| 258 | Greenville, NC | $66,850 | $51,650 | $74,340 | $75,620 |
| 259 | Abilene, TX | $66,680 | $45,910 | $76,920 | $73,790 |
| 260 | Jefferson City, MO | $66,600 | $50,230 | $74,650 | $75,700 |
| 261 | Farmington, NM | $66,040 | $47,570 | $75,130 | $75,300 |
| 262 | Winston, NC | $65,870 | $46,220 | $75,570 | $71,560 |
| 263 | Victoria, TX | $64,980 | $54,520 | $70,120 | $72,330 |
| 264 | Lafayette, LA | $64,560 | $46,590 | $73,420 | $74,030 |
| 265 | Topeka, KS | $64,520 | $44,140 | $74,570 | $72,640 |
| 266 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $64,380 | $44,660 | $74,090 | $76,630 |
| 267 | Rocky Mount, NC | $63,920 | $55,350 | $68,140 | $72,630 |
| 268 | Sebring, FL | $63,250 | $59,280 | $65,210 | $68,400 |
| 269 | Goldsboro, NC | $63,190 | $48,460 | $70,450 | $71,430 |
| 270 | Ocala, FL | $63,170 | $42,600 | $73,300 | $66,330 |
| 271 | Tallahassee, FL | $63,040 | $40,660 | $74,050 | $67,120 |
| 272 | Burlington, NC | $62,630 | $50,150 | $68,760 | $67,200 |
| 273 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $62,440 | $52,890 | $67,140 | $66,800 |
| 274 | Deltona, FL | $62,130 | $49,190 | $68,490 | $62,530 |
| 275 | Naples, FL | $61,610 | $44,140 | $70,220 | $59,700 |
| 276 | Terre Haute, IN | $60,670 | $53,770 | $64,080 | $69,100 |
| 277 | Columbia, MO | $60,650 | $48,460 | $66,660 | $67,810 |
| 278 | Spartanburg, SC | $60,440 | $50,250 | $65,460 | $66,380 |
| 279 | Michigan City, IN | $60,300 | $47,440 | $66,640 | $65,770 |
| 280 | Daphne, AL | $60,280 | $46,950 | $66,830 | $63,660 |
| 281 | Monroe, LA | $59,490 | $42,240 | $67,950 | $71,160 |
| 282 | Sumter, SC | $59,110 | $47,530 | $64,810 | $67,160 |
| 283 | Athens, GA | $58,840 | $45,550 | $65,370 | $63,040 |
| 284 | Hickory, NC | $58,010 | $49,380 | $62,280 | $65,560 |
| 285 | Provo, UT | $55,830 | $41,020 | $63,130 | $56,830 |
| 286 | Valdosta, GA | $54,950 | $45,470 | $59,630 | $62,250 |
| 287 | Houma, LA | $53,980 | $40,460 | $60,650 | $63,430 |
| 288 | Joplin, MO-KS | $52,670 | $44,200 | $56,850 | $61,450 |
More
More on detectives and criminal investigators
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Detective and Criminal Investigator salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays detectives and criminal investigators the most?
Brunswick, GA, where the average (mean) wage is $148,490 a year, followed by Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV ($146,910), San Jose, CA ($144,580), Oxnard, CA ($138,050). The national mean is $99,430 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do detectives and criminal investigators earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Brunswick, GA ($169,300 at national prices, $148,490 nominal), Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV ($134,920 at national prices, $146,910 nominal), San Jose, CA ($130,930 at national prices, $144,580 nominal).
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $113,860; Los Angeles, CA: $126,590; Chicago, IL-IN: $103,230; Dallas, TX: $99,860; Houston, TX: $104,810 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do detectives and criminal investigators earn the least?
Of the 288 metro areas with their own estimate, Joplin, MO-KS has the lowest mean wage, $52,670. At local prices that is worth $61,450.