Detective and Criminal Investigator salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A detective and criminal investigator earns a median of $93,790 a year ($45.09 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $99,430. About 114,430 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $93,790
- Gross pay
- $3,607.31
- Federal income tax
- −$453.99
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$223.65
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$52.31
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,877.36
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $93,790
- Federal
- $11,804
- FICA
- $7,175
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $74,811
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Detective and Criminal Investigator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $160,760 | $148,110 | 2,980 |
| Maryland | $126,730 | $130,040 | 1,010 |
| California | $124,840 | $121,530 | 12,610 |
| Delaware | $122,050 | $117,730 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 | $116,540 | 3,080 |
| Washington | $115,790 | $118,040 | 1,850 |
| Alaska | $114,940 | $125,160 | 140 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 | $124,610 | 440 |
| Virginia | $112,760 | $119,620 | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 | $118,130 | 1,300 |
| Oregon | $107,450 | $113,430 | 520 |
| Vermont | $106,330 | $104,220 | 190 |
| Colorado | $105,480 | $109,010 | 1,930 |
| Arizona | $102,340 | $100,000 | 5,250 |
| New York | $101,240 | $105,880 | 9,600 |
| Nebraska | $100,530 | $103,850 | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,580 | $101,760 | 3,370 |
| Connecticut | $95,240 | $101,890 | 940 |
| Nevada | $94,470 | $101,950 | 590 |
| Montana | $92,410 | $93,800 | 500 |
| West Virginia | $92,410 | $102,070 | 220 |
| Illinois | $91,190 | $97,480 | 3,270 |
| Wisconsin | $91,040 | $90,620 | 1,640 |
| Michigan | $90,650 | $103,190 | 2,220 |
| Texas | $90,510 | $92,030 | 18,870 |
| New Hampshire | $89,290 | $104,670 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $88,450 | $98,430 | 360 |
| Maine | $88,310 | $92,920 | 550 |
| New Mexico | $86,840 | $84,880 | 2,020 |
| North Dakota | $82,290 | $88,310 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $81,880 | $91,890 | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $80,430 | $86,620 | 1,220 |
| Minnesota | $80,000 | $87,860 | 1,970 |
| Iowa | $79,560 | $87,110 | 410 |
| Ohio | $79,300 | $90,600 | 2,140 |
| Utah | $78,920 | $89,940 | 550 |
| South Dakota | $77,730 | $91,060 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $77,090 | $87,790 | 1,860 |
| Florida | $77,060 | $93,020 | 6,440 |
| Kansas | $75,740 | $78,750 | 1,060 |
| Missouri | $75,650 | $85,720 | 1,600 |
| Idaho | $72,520 | $81,570 | 630 |
| Kentucky | $71,670 | $86,900 | 720 |
| Indiana | $70,340 | $77,610 | 1,280 |
| Alabama | $66,290 | $79,070 | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $65,430 | $78,140 | 5,070 |
| North Carolina | $63,280 | $76,020 | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $62,760 | $77,020 | 1,470 |
| Louisiana | $60,450 | $71,160 | 1,740 |
| Mississippi | $58,640 | $71,020 | 810 |
| Arkansas | $54,500 | $68,840 | 560 |
Similar jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker: $93,530
- Transit and Railroad Police: $90,230
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective: $106,040
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer: $77,970
- First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker: $76,400
- Police Officer: $76,210
- Fire Inspector and Investigator: $75,920
- Fish and Game Warden: $74,060
BLS occupation: Detectives and Criminal Investigators. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 33-3021). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $45.09; the average is $47.80.
Which state pays detectives and criminal investigators the most?
District of Columbia ($160,760 median), followed by Maryland and California.
What is the salary range for a detective and criminal investigator?
The bottom 10% earn under $55,390 and the top 10% earn over $160,540 a year.
How much is $93,790 after taxes?
About $74,811 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $69,115 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.