Best cities for a criminal investigator
The best cities for criminal investigators are Washington, DC, Sacramento, CA, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for criminal investigators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for criminal investigators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a criminal investigator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for criminal investigators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for criminal investigators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a criminal investigator. While the absolute best city for criminal investigators is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for criminal investigators in 2024.
If you're looking for a criminal investigator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for criminal investigators in 2025
1. Washington, DC
Total criminal investigator jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $90,383 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 7.45 2. Sacramento, CA
Total criminal investigator jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $77,228 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 2.76 3. Fresno, CA
Total criminal investigator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $76,365 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 2.81 4. Oakland, CA
Total criminal investigator jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $77,920 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 2.19 5. Detroit, MI
Total criminal investigator jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $55,988 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 4.96 6. Norfolk, VA
Total criminal investigator jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $62,153 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 10.87 7. Omaha, NE
Total criminal investigator jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $57,511 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 3.20 8. Columbus, OH
Total criminal investigator jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $54,607 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 2.00 9. Chicago, IL
Total criminal investigator jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $65,088 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 2.07 10. Philadelphia, PA
Total criminal investigator jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $58,211 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 2.27
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Best cities for criminal investigators
- Washington, DC
- Sacramento, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Norfolk, VA
- Omaha, NE
- Columbus, OH
- Chicago, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
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- (11 criminal investigator jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a criminal investigator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $90,383 | $56,000 | 681,170 | 82 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $77,228 | $47,000 | 495,234 | 11 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $76,365 | $47,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $77,920 | $47,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $55,988 | $35,000 | 672,795 | 20 |
| 6 | Norfolk, VA | $62,153 | $38,000 | 245,115 | 15 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $57,511 | $37,000 | 446,970 | 13 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $54,607 | $34,000 | 860,090 | 17 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $65,088 | $41,000 | 2,704,958 | 39 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,211 | $36,000 | 1,567,872 | 21 |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $54,958 | $34,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $53,246 | $34,000 | 559,277 | 18 |
| 13 | Long Beach, CA | $72,937 | $45,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $68,718 | $43,000 | 614,664 | 17 |
| 15 | Anchorage, AK | $58,018 | $48,000 | 298,192 | 15 |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $73,345 | $46,000 | 3,976,322 | 27 |
| 17 | Toledo, OH | $54,668 | $34,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $62,124 | $41,000 | 693,060 | 43 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $55,868 | $35,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 20 | Lubbock, TX | $54,011 | $34,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,126 | $35,000 | 303,625 | 8 |
| 22 | San Francisco, CA | $78,054 | $47,000 | 870,887 | 6 |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $52,719 | $32,000 | 245,255 | 8 |
| 24 | Milwaukee, WI | $51,678 | $32,000 | 595,047 | 15 |
| 25 | Fremont, CA | $77,782 | $47,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 26 | San Jose, CA | $77,735 | $47,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 27 | Virginia Beach, VA | $62,264 | $38,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 28 | Riverside, CA | $72,734 | $45,000 | 324,722 | 1 |
| 29 | Newark, NJ | $60,368 | $38,000 | 281,764 | 15 |
| 30 | Stockton, CA | $77,294 | $47,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 31 | Tucson, AZ | $54,309 | $34,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 32 | Colorado Springs, CO | $62,389 | $41,000 | 465,101 | 5 |
| 33 | San Antonio, TX | $55,130 | $34,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $54,891 | $34,000 | 2,303,482 | 20 |
| 35 | Bakersfield, CA | $75,029 | $46,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $72,875 | $45,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 37 | Santa Ana, CA | $72,751 | $45,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 38 | San Diego, CA | $71,327 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 8 |
| 39 | Phoenix, AZ | $55,226 | $35,000 | 1,615,017 | 17 |
| 40 | Irvine, CA | $72,632 | $45,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 41 | Las Vegas, NV | $51,364 | $32,000 | 632,912 | 14 |
| 42 | Lexington, KY | $45,190 | $28,000 | 318,449 | 5 |
| 43 | Laredo, TX | $55,491 | $34,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 44 | Arlington, TX | $53,703 | $34,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 45 | Corpus Christi, TX | $55,353 | $34,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 46 | Chula Vista, CA | $71,070 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 47 | Lincoln, NE | $57,344 | $37,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 48 | Austin, TX | $54,922 | $34,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 49 | Memphis, TN | $44,649 | $28,000 | 652,717 | 9 |
| 50 | Kansas City, MO | $48,713 | $31,000 | 481,420 | 13 |
Highest paying cities for criminal investigators
| Rank | City | Avg. criminal investigator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $90,383 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $77,228 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $68,717 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $65,088 |
| 5 | Norfolk, VA | $62,153 |
| 6 | Lakewood, CO | $62,133 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $61,942 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $61,624 |
| 9 | Newark, NJ | $60,368 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $59,018 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,211 |
| 12 | Anchorage, AK | $58,018 |
| 13 | Jackson, MS | $57,550 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $57,511 |
| 15 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $57,121 |
| 16 | Billings, MT | $56,736 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $55,988 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $55,335 |
| 19 | Manchester, NH | $55,262 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $55,226 |
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Updated January 8, 2025