Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) earn a median $93,790 a year ($45.09 an hour) in the United States, with 114,430 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What detectives and criminal investigators do
Detectives and criminal investigators conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state or local laws to prevent or solve crimes, and the SOC excludes private detectives and investigators. They obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses and accused persons and record the interviews, and at a scene they obtain a summary of the incident from the officer in charge while taking care not to disturb evidence. They check victims for signs of life, secure a deceased body and keep bystanders from tampering with it before the medical examiner arrives, and preserve, process and analyze evidence from crime scenes and suspects. They record the progress of an investigation, maintain information files on suspects, and submit reports to a commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants. They prepare reports of their findings and prepare charges, or responses to charges, and information for court cases according to formal procedures. Education is varied: 32 percent of respondents report a high school diploma, 20 percent an associate degree and 20 percent a postsecondary certificate. Listed alternate names range widely, from burglary investigator and city detective to air marshal, child support investigator, crime analyst and counter intelligence agent.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (32 percent).
Also called: Air Marshal, Burglary Investigator, Child Support Agent, Child Support Investigator, Child Support Officer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $26.63 | $33.33 | $45.09 | $57.94 | $77.18 | $47.80 | 114,430 |
| Annual | $55,390 | $69,330 | $93,790 | $120,520 | $160,540 | $99,430 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where detectives and criminal investigators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $45.30 | $54.92 | $77.29 | $82.12 | $93.84 | $71.21 | 2,980 | 4.25 | 5.78 |
| Annual | $94,220 | $114,230 | $160,760 | $170,810 | $195,190 | $148,110 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $34.23 | $44.82 | $60.93 | $79.92 | $90.72 | $62.52 | 1,010 | 0.37 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $71,200 | $93,230 | $126,730 | $166,230 | $188,700 | $130,040 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $37.64 | $47.73 | $60.02 | $65.40 | $79.57 | $58.43 | 12,610 | 0.69 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $78,280 | $99,270 | $124,840 | $136,020 | $165,510 | $121,530 | ||||
| Delaware | Hourly | $31.65 | $34.46 | $58.68 | $72.11 | $79.09 | $56.60 | 140 | 0.29 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $65,830 | $71,670 | $122,050 | $149,990 | $164,510 | $117,730 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $35.15 | $43.92 | $55.92 | $64.42 | $79.60 | $56.03 | 3,080 | 0.72 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $73,100 | $91,360 | $116,300 | $134,000 | $165,570 | $116,540 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $25.24 | $31.09 | $43.51 | $52.55 | $63.87 | $44.24 | 18,870 | 1.34 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $52,510 | $64,660 | $90,510 | $109,300 | $132,850 | $92,030 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $37.64 | $47.73 | $60.02 | $65.40 | $79.57 | $58.43 | 12,610 | 0.69 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $78,280 | $99,270 | $124,840 | $136,020 | $165,510 | $121,530 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.87 | $37.25 | $48.67 | $60.03 | $80.19 | $50.91 | 9,600 | 0.99 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $62,130 | $77,470 | $101,240 | $124,860 | $166,800 | $105,880 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $24.06 | $29.23 | $37.05 | $57.78 | $78.10 | $44.72 | 6,440 | 0.65 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $50,050 | $60,790 | $77,060 | $120,180 | $162,450 | $93,020 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $29.13 | $37.37 | $49.20 | $53.54 | $68.45 | $48.08 | 5,250 | 1.62 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $60,590 | $77,730 | $102,340 | $111,360 | $142,380 | $100,000 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $48.32 | $56.62 | $76.27 | $76.27 | $90.44 | $69.51 | 280 | 0.24 | 0.33 |
| Annual | $100,510 | $117,770 | $158,640 | $158,640 | $188,120 | $144,580 | ||||
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | Hourly | $33.92 | $69.66 | $75.99 | $82.33 | $84.81 | $71.39 | 240 | 5.08 | 6.90 |
| Annual | $70,550 | $144,890 | $158,060 | $171,250 | $176,400 | $148,490 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $43.42 | $53.22 | $75.36 | $84.54 | $93.84 | $70.63 | 4,830 | 1.54 | 2.09 |
| Annual | $90,310 | $110,700 | $156,750 | $175,840 | $195,190 | $146,910 | ||||
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | $38.84 | $43.26 | $73.83 | $81.86 | $93.84 | $66.37 | 70 | 0.21 | 0.28 |
| Annual | $80,790 | $89,990 | $153,570 | $170,270 | $195,190 | $138,040 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $46.38 | $53.21 | $67.67 | $68.32 | $79.34 | $62.23 | 350 | 0.77 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $96,470 | $110,680 | $140,750 | $142,110 | $165,030 | $129,430 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $29.87 | $37.60 | $51.18 | $71.80 | $84.58 | $54.74 | 7,580 | 0.80 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $62,130 | $78,210 | $106,440 | $149,340 | $175,930 | $113,870 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $43.42 | $53.22 | $75.36 | $84.54 | $93.84 | $70.63 | 4,830 | 1.54 | 2.09 |
| Annual | $90,310 | $110,700 | $156,750 | $175,840 | $195,190 | $146,910 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $39.67 | $48.96 | $61.49 | $71.44 | $83.67 | $60.86 | 3,240 | 0.52 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $82,510 | $101,830 | $127,890 | $148,590 | $174,030 | $126,590 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $22.00 | $28.45 | $33.61 | $38.09 | $66.97 | $37.57 | 3,070 | 1.06 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $45,770 | $59,180 | $69,900 | $79,220 | $139,300 | $78,150 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $37.40 | $50.29 | $60.02 | $61.65 | $80.34 | $58.27 | 2,990 | 1.94 | 2.64 |
| Annual | $77,790 | $104,600 | $124,840 | $128,230 | $167,110 | $121,210 | ||||
Top industries employing detectives and criminal investigators
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 42.6% of detectives and criminal investigators nationally (48,770 jobs) at a median $78,280 a year ($37.64 an hour), followed by Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (36.0%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (20.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 48,770 | 42.6% | $78,280 | $37.64 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 41,230 | 36.0% | $119,500 | $57.45 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 23,700 | 20.7% | $79,770 | $38.35 |
| Postal Service (Federal Government) NAICS 491100 | 400 | 0.3% | $117,020 | $56.26 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 260 | 0.2% | $79,450 | $38.20 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (114,430). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $83,640 for detectives and criminal investigators in May 2021 and $93,790 in May 2025, with employment of 107,890 and 114,430.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $83,640 | $40.21 | 107,890 |
| May 2022 | $86,280 | $41.48 | 107,400 |
| May 2023 | $91,100 | $43.80 | 106,730 |
| May 2024 | $93,580 | $44.99 | 110,790 |
| May 2025 | $93,790 | $45.09 | 114,430 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $77.29 | $160,760 | $94,220 | $195,190 | 2,980 | 4.25 | 5.78 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | $60.93 | $126,730 | $71,200 | $188,700 | 1,010 | 0.37 | 0.50 |
| 3 | California profile | $60.02 | $124,840 | $78,280 | $165,510 | 12,610 | 0.69 | 0.94 |
| 4 | Delaware profile | $58.68 | $122,050 | $65,830 | $164,510 | 140 | 0.29 | 0.40 |
| 5 | New Jersey profile | $55.92 | $116,300 | $73,100 | $165,570 | 3,080 | 0.72 | 0.98 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $55.67 | $115,790 | $84,500 | $162,860 | 1,850 | 0.52 | 0.71 |
| 7 | Alaska profile | $55.26 | $114,940 | $79,680 | $183,680 | 140 | 0.43 | 0.58 |
| 8 | Hawaii profile | $54.78 | $113,940 | $92,520 | $165,030 | 440 | 0.70 | 0.95 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $54.21 | $112,760 | $62,730 | $195,190 | 3,180 | 0.78 | 1.05 |
| 10 | Massachusetts profile | $52.96 | $110,150 | $76,150 | $179,030 | 1,300 | 0.36 | 0.49 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $51.66 | $107,450 | $81,990 | $158,060 | 520 | 0.27 | 0.36 |
| 12 | Vermont profile | $51.12 | $106,330 | $65,690 | $153,670 | 190 | 0.63 | 0.85 |
| 13 | Colorado profile | $50.71 | $105,480 | $73,010 | $161,550 | 1,930 | 0.67 | 0.91 |
| 14 | Arizona profile | $49.20 | $102,340 | $60,590 | $142,380 | 5,250 | 1.62 | 2.20 |
| 15 | New York profile | $48.67 | $101,240 | $62,130 | $166,800 | 9,600 | 0.99 | 1.35 |
| 16 | Nebraska profile | $48.33 | $100,530 | $68,900 | $155,210 | 290 | 0.28 | 0.38 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania profile | $46.91 | $97,580 | $63,770 | $154,360 | 3,370 | 0.56 | 0.76 |
| 18 | Connecticut profile | $45.79 | $95,240 | $78,990 | $130,540 | 940 | 0.56 | 0.75 |
| 19 | Nevada profile | $45.42 | $94,470 | $60,920 | $152,480 | 590 | 0.38 | 0.52 |
| 20 | Montana profile | $44.43 | $92,410 | $58,670 | $144,000 | 500 | 0.97 | 1.32 |
| 21 | West Virginia profile | $44.43 | $92,410 | $48,450 | $171,250 | 220 | 0.31 | 0.42 |
| 22 | Illinois profile | $43.84 | $91,190 | $53,960 | $157,060 | 3,270 | 0.54 | 0.73 |
| 23 | Wisconsin profile | $43.77 | $91,040 | $70,060 | $103,130 | 1,640 | 0.56 | 0.76 |
| 24 | Michigan profile | $43.58 | $90,650 | $71,590 | $164,670 | 2,220 | 0.51 | 0.69 |
| 25 | Texas profile | $43.51 | $90,510 | $52,510 | $132,850 | 18,870 | 1.34 | 1.82 |
| 26 | New Hampshire profile | $42.93 | $89,290 | $74,690 | $174,050 | 290 | 0.43 | 0.58 |
| 27 | Rhode Island profile | $42.52 | $88,450 | $75,910 | $159,140 | 360 | 0.73 | 0.98 |
| 28 | Maine profile | $42.46 | $88,310 | $63,290 | $120,430 | 550 | 0.86 | 1.17 |
| 29 | New Mexico profile | $41.75 | $86,840 | $47,480 | $111,970 | 2,020 | 2.32 | 3.15 |
| 30 | North Dakota profile | $39.56 | $82,290 | $58,350 | $129,230 | 420 | 0.97 | 1.31 |
| 31 | Wyoming profile | $39.37 | $81,880 | $62,230 | $149,280 | 170 | 0.61 | 0.82 |
| 32 | Oklahoma profile | $38.67 | $80,430 | $51,420 | $136,120 | 1,220 | 0.71 | 0.97 |
| 33 | Minnesota profile | $38.46 | $80,000 | $59,710 | $115,210 | 1,970 | 0.67 | 0.91 |
| 34 | Iowa profile | $38.25 | $79,560 | $58,930 | $141,650 | 410 | 0.26 | 0.36 |
| 35 | Ohio profile | $38.13 | $79,300 | $56,840 | $151,200 | 2,140 | 0.39 | 0.52 |
| 36 | Utah profile | $37.94 | $78,920 | $48,040 | $149,280 | 550 | 0.32 | 0.43 |
| 37 | South Dakota profile | $37.37 | $77,730 | $60,210 | $149,280 | 250 | 0.55 | 0.74 |
| 38 | Tennessee profile | $37.06 | $77,090 | $49,660 | $149,280 | 1,860 | 0.57 | 0.77 |
| 39 | Florida profile | $37.05 | $77,060 | $50,050 | $162,450 | 6,440 | 0.65 | 0.88 |
| 40 | Kansas profile | $36.41 | $75,740 | $49,610 | $114,030 | 1,060 | 0.74 | 1.00 |
| 41 | Missouri profile | $36.37 | $75,650 | $49,190 | $151,720 | 1,600 | 0.54 | 0.74 |
| 42 | Idaho profile | $34.86 | $72,520 | $53,120 | $125,550 | 630 | 0.74 | 1.00 |
| 43 | Kentucky profile | $34.46 | $71,670 | $51,640 | $149,280 | 720 | 0.36 | 0.49 |
| 44 | Indiana profile | $33.82 | $70,340 | $45,480 | $127,790 | 1,280 | 0.40 | 0.54 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $31.87 | $66,290 | $43,060 | $150,780 | 1,340 | 0.64 | 0.86 |
| 46 | Georgia profile | $31.46 | $65,430 | $46,790 | $149,030 | 5,070 | 1.04 | 1.41 |
| 47 | North Carolina profile | $30.43 | $63,280 | $50,260 | $137,550 | 3,360 | 0.68 | 0.92 |
| 48 | South Carolina profile | $30.17 | $62,760 | $50,960 | $149,280 | 1,470 | 0.64 | 0.87 |
| 49 | Louisiana profile | $29.06 | $60,450 | $39,020 | $131,730 | 1,740 | 0.90 | 1.22 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $28.19 | $58,640 | $41,260 | $136,120 | 810 | 0.70 | 0.95 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $26.20 | $54,500 | $41,380 | $144,890 | 560 | 0.43 | 0.58 |
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-3021 Detectives and Criminal Investigators.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-3021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-3021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.