SOC 33-3021 · Protective Service Occupations

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$93,790

U.S. median hourly wage$45.09

U.S. employment114,430

Nationally, detectives and criminal investigators earned a median of $93,790 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 114,430 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators: pay and employment by state
State
District of Columbia	$160,760	$77.29	2,980	4.3
Maryland	$126,730	$60.93	1,010	0.4
California	$124,840	$60.02	12,610	0.7
Delaware	$122,050	$58.68	140	0.3
New Jersey	$116,300	$55.92	3,080	0.7
Washington	$115,790	$55.67	1,850	0.5
Alaska	$114,940	$55.26	140	0.4
Hawaii	$113,940	$54.78	440	0.7
Virginia	$112,760	$54.21	3,180	0.8
Massachusetts	$110,150	$52.96	1,300	0.4
Oregon	$107,450	$51.66	520	0.3
Vermont	$106,330	$51.12	190	0.6
Colorado	$105,480	$50.71	1,930	0.7
Arizona	$102,340	$49.20	5,250	1.6
New York	$101,240	$48.67	9,600	1.0
Nebraska	$100,530	$48.33	290	0.3
Pennsylvania	$97,580	$46.91	3,370	0.6
Connecticut	$95,240	$45.79	940	0.6
Nevada	$94,470	$45.42	590	0.4
Montana	$92,410	$44.43	500	1.0
West Virginia	$92,410	$44.43	220	0.3
Illinois	$91,190	$43.84	3,270	0.5
Wisconsin	$91,040	$43.77	1,640	0.6
Michigan	$90,650	$43.58	2,220	0.5
Texas	$90,510	$43.51	18,870	1.3
New Hampshire	$89,290	$42.93	290	0.4
Rhode Island	$88,450	$42.52	360	0.7
Maine	$88,310	$42.46	550	0.9
New Mexico	$86,840	$41.75	2,020	2.3
North Dakota	$82,290	$39.56	420	1.0
Wyoming	$81,880	$39.37	170	0.6
Oklahoma	$80,430	$38.67	1,220	0.7
Minnesota	$80,000	$38.46	1,970	0.7
Iowa	$79,560	$38.25	410	0.3
Ohio	$79,300	$38.13	2,140	0.4
Utah	$78,920	$37.94	550	0.3
South Dakota	$77,730	$37.37	250	0.5
Tennessee	$77,090	$37.06	1,860	0.6
Florida	$77,060	$37.05	6,440	0.6
Kansas	$75,740	$36.41	1,060	0.7
Missouri	$75,650	$36.37	1,600	0.5
Idaho	$72,520	$34.86	630	0.7
Kentucky	$71,670	$34.46	720	0.4
Puerto Rico	$70,760	$34.02	620	0.7
Indiana	$70,340	$33.82	1,280	0.4
Alabama	$66,290	$31.87	1,340	0.6
Georgia	$65,430	$31.46	5,070	1.0
North Carolina	$63,280	$30.43	3,360	0.7
South Carolina	$62,760	$30.17	1,470	0.6
Louisiana	$60,450	$29.06	1,740	0.9
Mississippi	$58,640	$28.19	810	0.7
Arkansas	$54,500	$26.20	560	0.4

Pay by metro area

All 288 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$158,640	$76.27	280	0.2
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA	$158,060	$75.99	240	5.1
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$156,750	$75.36	4,830	1.5
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$153,570	$73.83	70	0.2
Urban Honolulu, HI	$140,750	$67.67	350	0.8
Great Falls, MT	$136,120	$65.44	40	1.0
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$133,100	$63.99	60	0.3
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$130,810	$62.89	40	0.2
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$128,440	$61.75	490	0.4
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$127,890	$61.49	3,240	0.5
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$127,420	$61.26	1,510	0.9
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$126,700	$60.91	690	0.3
Anchorage, AK	$125,240	$60.21	90	0.5
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$124,840	$60.02	2,990	1.9
El Centro, CA	$123,970	$59.60	770	11.8
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$123,820	$59.53	740	0.4
Bellingham, WA	$122,840	$59.06	260	2.9
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$121,100	$58.22	50	0.6
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$119,350	$57.38	310	0.3
Roanoke, VA	$114,050	$54.83	130	0.8
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$113,360	$54.50	90	0.3
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$113,340	$54.49	1,230	0.8
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$111,860	$53.78	270	1.0
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$111,530	$53.62	100	0.8
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$110,760	$53.25	60	0.4
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$110,750	$53.25	370	1.5
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$110,150	$52.96	1,110	0.4
Fresno, CA	$109,720	$52.75	420	0.9
Springfield, MA	$109,510	$52.65	50	0.3
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$109,500	$52.64	1,570	1.5
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$109,460	$52.62	30	0.2
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	$109,300	$52.55	880	5.6
El Paso, TX	$109,300	$52.55	1,790	5.3
Sandusky, OH	$109,300	$52.55	60	1.3
Yakima, WA	$108,890	$52.35	30	0.3
Vallejo, CA	$108,430	$52.13	60	0.4
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	$108,350	$52.09	730	21.6
Rochester, NY	$107,660	$51.76	450	0.9
Reno, NV	$107,470	$51.67	70	0.3
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$107,350	$51.61	270	1.0
San Angelo, TX	$106,580	$51.24	80	1.6
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$106,440	$51.18	7,580	0.8
Las Cruces, NM	$106,330	$51.12	560	7.0
Grand Junction, CO	$106,270	$51.09	70	1.1
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	$106,110	$51.01	70	1.9
Pueblo, CO	$106,000	$50.96	30	0.6
Salinas, CA	$105,990	$50.96	50	0.3
Ann Arbor, MI	$105,780	$50.85	50	0.2
Tucson, AZ	$105,350	$50.65	1,620	4.2
Omaha, NE-IA	$105,310	$50.63	160	0.3
Rockford, IL	$104,150	$50.07	130	0.9
Modesto, CA	$104,000	$50.00	90	0.5
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$103,780	$49.90	50	0.4
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$103,380	$49.70	1,600	5.4
Boulder, CO	$103,360	$49.69	50	0.3
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$103,140	$49.59	60	0.3
Bend, OR	$103,000	$49.52	40	0.4
Vineland, NJ	$102,980	$49.51	70	1.1
Madison, WI	$102,780	$49.41	280	0.7
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$102,710	$49.38	40	0.4
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$102,260	$49.16	2,290	0.5
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$101,500	$48.80	90	0.5
Barnstable Town, MA	$100,680	$48.41	40	0.4
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$99,860	$48.01	120	0.7
Lincoln, NE	$99,760	$47.96	40	0.2
Missoula, MT	$99,560	$47.87	40	0.6
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$99,080	$47.64	2,110	0.7
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$99,010	$47.60	960	2.1
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$98,860	$47.53	1,140	0.5
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	$98,700	$47.45	50	0.4
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$98,690	$47.45	340	0.6
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$98,620	$47.41	230	0.6
Syracuse, NY	$98,390	$47.30	340	1.1
Greeley, CO	$98,370	$47.29	50	0.4
Mobile, AL	$98,310	$47.26	100	0.6
Laredo, TX	$98,180	$47.20	1,410	12.9
Salem, OR	$97,750	$47.00	80	0.4
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$97,580	$46.91	2,160	0.7
Lancaster, PA	$97,190	$46.73	60	0.2
New Haven, CT	$96,790	$46.53	180	0.6
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$96,760	$46.52	230	0.7
Flint, MI	$96,740	$46.51	90	0.7
Erie, PA	$96,470	$46.38	100	0.9
Lynchburg, VA	$96,430	$46.36	90	1.0
York-Hanover, PA	$96,070	$46.19	80	0.4
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$95,820	$46.07	1,200	0.6
Reading, PA	$95,190	$45.76	80	0.4
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$95,150	$45.75	850	1.6
Pittsburgh, PA	$95,120	$45.73	580	0.5
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$94,800	$45.58	190	0.5
Yuma, AZ	$94,520	$45.44	790	11.4
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$94,470	$45.42	450	0.4
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$94,470	$45.42	120	0.7
Redding, CA	$94,280	$45.33	40	0.5
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$93,790	$45.09	460	0.6
Charlottesville, VA	$93,160	$44.79	50	0.4
Lawrence, KS	$93,020	$44.72	30	0.7
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$92,910	$44.67	550	0.7
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$92,420	$44.43	1,150	0.8
Charleston, WV	$92,410	$44.43	80	0.7
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$92,410	$44.43	140	0.2
Jacksonville, NC	$92,410	$44.43	100	2.0
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$92,110	$44.28	330	0.3
Appleton, WI	$92,030	$44.24	50	0.4
Kenosha, WI	$91,820	$44.15	70	1.0
Eagle Pass, TX	$91,560	$44.02	590	31.2
Kansas City, MO-KS	$91,490	$43.99	850	0.8
Binghamton, NY	$91,470	$43.98	100	1.1
Huntsville, AL	$91,230	$43.86	240	0.9
Richmond, VA	$91,080	$43.79	490	0.7
Utica-Rome, NY	$90,430	$43.48	130	1.1
State College, PA	$90,250	$43.39	50	0.7
Corpus Christi, TX	$89,970	$43.26	180	0.9
Cleveland, OH	$89,300	$42.93	440	0.4
Worcester, MA	$89,270	$42.92	80	0.2
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	$89,210	$42.89	70	0.9
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$88,790	$42.69	230	1.7
Springfield, IL	$88,790	$42.69	120	1.2
Wausau, WI	$88,780	$42.68	30	0.5
Bangor, ME	$88,710	$42.65	60	0.8
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$88,450	$42.52	430	0.6
Ogden, UT	$88,270	$42.44	50	0.2
Kingston, NY	$87,990	$42.31	70	1.2
Wichita, KS	$87,280	$41.96	270	0.9
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$86,510	$41.59	200	0.9
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$86,440	$41.56	50	0.4
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$86,390	$41.53	1,870	0.6
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$86,110	$41.40	1,830	0.5
Grand Forks, ND-MN	$86,110	$41.40	60	1.3
Colorado Springs, CO	$85,750	$41.23	230	0.7
Visalia, CA	$85,740	$41.22	90	0.5
Fargo, ND-MN	$85,300	$41.01	100	0.7
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$85,300	$41.01	1,230	0.6
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$84,900	$40.82	120	0.4
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	$84,800	$40.77	40	0.3
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$84,660	$40.70	60	0.5
Janesville-Beloit, WI	$84,520	$40.64	30	0.5
Green Bay, WI	$84,190	$40.47	60	0.4
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$83,830	$40.31	1,670	1.5
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$83,620	$40.20	150	0.4
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$83,620	$40.20	190	0.3
Boise City, ID	$83,050	$39.93	260	0.7
Tulsa, OK	$82,420	$39.62	230	0.5
Oklahoma City, OK	$81,720	$39.29	640	0.9
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$81,660	$39.26	370	0.5
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$81,500	$39.18	140	0.5
St. Louis, MO-IL	$80,930	$38.91	660	0.5
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$80,770	$38.83	300	0.9
Battle Creek, MI	$80,680	$38.79	30	0.6
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$80,180	$38.55	60	0.3
Saginaw, MI	$80,140	$38.53	40	0.5
Tyler, TX	$79,710	$38.32	120	1.0
Birmingham, AL	$79,560	$38.25	230	0.4
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$79,560	$38.25	220	0.5
Glens Falls, NY	$79,560	$38.25	40	0.7
Bowling Green, KY	$79,360	$38.16	40	0.5
Portland-South Portland, ME	$79,030	$38.00	180	0.6
Columbus, OH	$79,000	$37.98	540	0.5
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$78,970	$37.96	1,710	1.3
Lawton, OK	$78,920	$37.94	30	0.7
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$78,920	$37.94	280	0.5
Midland, TX	$78,920	$37.94	60	0.5
Minot, ND	$78,920	$37.94	40	1.1
Evansville, IN	$78,890	$37.93	80	0.6
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	$78,610	$37.79	40	0.6
Knoxville, TN	$78,600	$37.79	230	0.6
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$78,460	$37.72	660	0.6
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$78,410	$37.70	190	0.5
Eau Claire, WI	$78,310	$37.65	60	0.7
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$78,200	$37.59	70	0.5
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	$77,960	$37.48	40	0.3
Rapid City, SD	$77,730	$37.37	90	1.2
Flagstaff, AZ	$77,680	$37.35	120	1.9
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$77,410	$37.22	70	0.4
Duluth, MN-WI	$77,330	$37.18	120	0.9
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	$77,250	$37.14	40	0.6
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$77,210	$37.12	630	0.9
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$76,730	$36.89	440	0.4
College Station-Bryan, TX	$76,320	$36.69	40	0.3
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$76,310	$36.69	230	0.8
Akron, OH	$76,230	$36.65	110	0.4
Santa Fe, NM	$76,230	$36.65	60	1.0
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$75,850	$36.47	60	0.5
Jackson, TN	$75,610	$36.35	100	1.1
Toledo, OH	$75,610	$36.35	150	0.5
Port St. Lucie, FL	$75,420	$36.26	110	0.7
Rochester, MN	$75,100	$36.11	50	0.4
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	$74,990	$36.06	40	0.4
Amarillo, TX	$74,980	$36.05	90	0.7
Fort Wayne, IN	$74,820	$35.97	90	0.4
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$74,600	$35.87	140	0.5
Jacksonville, FL	$74,580	$35.86	540	0.7
Warner Robins, GA	$74,250	$35.70	70	0.9
Johnson City, TN	$74,020	$35.59	60	0.8
Helena, MT	$73,950	$35.55	70	1.5
Peoria, IL	$73,700	$35.44	80	0.5
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	$73,520	$35.35	70	0.4
Champaign-Urbana, IL	$73,430	$35.30	60	0.5
Traverse City, MI	$73,050	$35.12	50	0.7
Billings, MT	$72,880	$35.04	70	0.8
Lubbock, TX	$72,820	$35.01	280	1.7
Clarksville, TN-KY	$72,800	$35.00	80	0.8
Savannah, GA	$72,460	$34.84	170	0.9
Auburn-Opelika, AL	$72,420	$34.82	40	0.6
Twin Falls, ID	$72,150	$34.69	30	0.6
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	$72,060	$34.65	90	0.6
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	$71,680	$34.46	140	0.7
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$71,460	$34.36	600	0.4
Waco, TX	$70,990	$34.13	120	1.0
Albany, GA	$70,930	$34.10	70	1.1
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$70,760	$34.02	110	0.7
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$70,760	$34.02	540	0.4
Sherman-Denison, TX	$70,740	$34.01	30	0.6
Montgomery, AL	$70,710	$33.99	220	1.3
Killeen-Temple, TX	$70,590	$33.94	130	0.9
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$69,900	$33.61	3,070	1.1
Farmington, NM	$69,640	$33.48	40	0.9
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$69,450	$33.39	70	0.2
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$68,790	$33.07	160	0.5
Pocatello, ID	$68,720	$33.04	50	1.3
Jackson, MS	$68,520	$32.94	210	0.8
Macon-Bibb County, GA	$68,520	$32.94	240	2.5
St. Cloud, MN	$68,490	$32.93	60	0.5
Rocky Mount, NC	$67,970	$32.68	30	0.6
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	$67,750	$32.57	90	0.7
Gainesville, FL	$66,350	$31.90	110	0.7
Columbia, SC	$66,340	$31.89	580	1.5
Coeur d'Alene, ID	$65,980	$31.72	50	0.7
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	$65,040	$31.27	90	1.0
Monroe, LA	$65,010	$31.26	100	1.2
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$64,980	$31.24	230	1.0
Bismarck, ND	$64,640	$31.08	110	1.5
Fayetteville, NC	$64,590	$31.05	170	1.3
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$64,320	$30.92	90	0.3
Tuscaloosa, AL	$64,140	$30.84	40	0.3
Longview, TX	$63,950	$30.75	60	0.5
Springfield, MO	$63,920	$30.73	150	0.7
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$63,910	$30.73	520	0.8
Burlington, NC	$63,780	$30.66	50	0.8
Baton Rouge, LA	$63,760	$30.65	420	1.0
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$63,130	$30.35	90	0.4
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$62,700	$30.15	170	0.4
Wilmington, NC	$62,580	$30.09	210	1.1
Gainesville, GA	$62,520	$30.06	80	0.8
Asheville, NC	$62,460	$30.03	140	0.8
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$62,430	$30.02	450	1.0
Winston-Salem, NC	$62,260	$29.93	140	0.5
Alexandria, LA	$62,030	$29.82	40	0.7
Spartanburg, SC	$61,920	$29.77	40	0.3
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$61,300	$29.47	100	0.4
Greenville, NC	$61,220	$29.43	40	0.6
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$61,210	$29.43	240	0.7
Columbia, MO	$61,170	$29.41	40	0.3
Anniston-Oxford, AL	$61,140	$29.40	30	0.8
Lafayette, LA	$60,820	$29.24	90	0.5
Ocala, FL	$60,470	$29.07	50	0.4
Hinesville, GA	$60,150	$28.92	40	1.8
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	$60,100	$28.90	50	1.2
Abilene, TX	$59,980	$28.84	60	0.8
Sebring, FL	$59,890	$28.79	40	1.6
Hammond, LA	$59,400	$28.56	70	1.4
Goldsboro, NC	$59,390	$28.55	40	1.1
Homosassa Springs, FL	$59,240	$28.48	40	1.0
Athens-Clarke County, GA	$58,850	$28.29	90	1.0
Naples-Marco Island, FL	$58,610	$28.18	80	0.5
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL	$58,410	$28.08	50	0.8
Tallahassee, FL	$58,410	$28.08	490	2.6
Lake Charles, LA	$58,240	$28.00	80	0.8
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$58,090	$27.93	60	0.3
Victoria, TX	$58,030	$27.90	50	1.2
Topeka, KS	$57,700	$27.74	200	1.8
Hattiesburg, MS	$57,420	$27.60	30	0.6
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$57,220	$27.51	100	0.6
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$57,060	$27.43	170	1.1
Jefferson City, MO	$56,870	$27.34	90	1.1
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$56,710	$27.27	30	0.2
Sumter, SC	$56,500	$27.17	40	1.3
Terre Haute, IN	$56,320	$27.08	60	0.9
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$56,270	$27.05	240	0.7
Texarkana, TX-AR	$55,950	$26.90	30	0.6
Valdosta, GA	$55,520	$26.69	50	0.9
Florence, SC	$55,320	$26.60	80	0.9
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$52,540	$25.26	30	0.1
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	$50,700	$24.38	50	0.6
Columbus, GA-AL	$50,080	$24.08	170	1.5
Joplin, MO-KS	$49,200	$23.65	40	0.5
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	$48,270	$23.21	120	1.5
Albuquerque, NM	$47,480	$22.83	680	1.7

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.