SOC 33-3021 · May 2025
Detective Salary
Detectives in the US earn a median of $93,790 a year ($47.80 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Detective pay climbed from $86,030 in 2019 to $99,430 in 2025, a +15.6% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$93,790
Half of all Detectives in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+15.6% since 2019 · +0.7% YoY
Hourly
$47.80
Job growth 2025-35
+0.2%
US workers
114,430
BLS series
Annual median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Detectives is $55,390 – $160,540.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$55,390
25th
$69,330
Median
$93,790
75th
$120,520
90th
$160,540
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Detectives. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $55,390 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $69,330 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $93,790 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $120,520 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $160,540 |
Geography
Detective pay by state
Detectives earn the most in D.C. ($160,760, +71% against the national median) and the least in Arkansas ($54,500). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$93,790
Highest-paying states for detectives
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $160,760 | +71% | 2,980 |
| Maryland | $126,730 | +35% | 1,010 |
| California | $124,840 | +33% | 12,610 |
| Delaware | $122,050 | +30% | 140 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 | +24% | 3,080 |
| Washington | $115,790 | +23% | 1,850 |
| Alaska | $114,940 | +23% | 140 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 | +21% | 440 |
| Virginia | $112,760 | +20% | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 | +17% | 1,300 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $160,760 | 2,980 |
| Maryland | $126,730 | 1,010 |
| California | $124,840 | 12,610 |
| Delaware | $122,050 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 | 3,080 |
| Washington | $115,790 | 1,850 |
| Alaska | $114,940 | 140 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 | 440 |
| Virginia | $112,760 | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 | 1,300 |
| Oregon | $107,450 | 520 |
| Vermont | $106,330 | 190 |
| Colorado | $105,480 | 1,930 |
| Arizona | $102,340 | 5,250 |
| New York | $101,240 | 9,600 |
| Nebraska | $100,530 | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,580 | 3,370 |
| Connecticut | $95,240 | 940 |
| Nevada | $94,470 | 590 |
| Montana | $92,410 | 500 |
| West Virginia | $92,410 | 220 |
| Illinois | $91,190 | 3,270 |
| Wisconsin | $91,040 | 1,640 |
| Michigan | $90,650 | 2,220 |
| Texas | $90,510 | 18,870 |
| New Hampshire | $89,290 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $88,450 | 360 |
| Maine | $88,310 | 550 |
| New Mexico | $86,840 | 2,020 |
| North Dakota | $82,290 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $81,880 | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $80,430 | 1,220 |
| Minnesota | $80,000 | 1,970 |
| Iowa | $79,560 | 410 |
| Ohio | $79,300 | 2,140 |
| Utah | $78,920 | 550 |
| South Dakota | $77,730 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $77,090 | 1,860 |
| Florida | $77,060 | 6,440 |
| Kansas | $75,740 | 1,060 |
| Missouri | $75,650 | 1,600 |
| Idaho | $72,520 | 630 |
| Kentucky | $71,670 | 720 |
| Indiana | $70,340 | 1,280 |
| Alabama | $66,290 | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $65,430 | 5,070 |
| North Carolina | $63,280 | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $62,760 | 1,470 |
| Louisiana | $60,450 | 1,740 |
| Mississippi | $58,640 | 810 |
| Arkansas | $54,500 | 560 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Detectives
Detectives and criminal investigators (BLS SOC 33-3021) conduct investigations into alleged or suspected criminal activity. The role typically requires sworn officer status and several years of patrol experience before promotion to detective. Federal agents (FBI, DEA, ATF, USSS) are reported under the same SOC and command pay structures above local-agency detectives. State-administered LEOSA-qualified retired-status pay variations apply.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $55,390 – $160,540. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., Maryland and California. Pay in D.C. runs 2.9 times the level in Arkansas, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 7,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 0.2% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Detective salary in the US?
How much does a Detective make an hour?
How much do Detectives make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Detectives the most?
Is the average Detective salary higher than the median?
Is Detective a growing career?
Open positions
Open Detective roles hiring now
Browse current Detective listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 33-3021. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.