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Best states for an internal affairs investigator
Quoted expert
Daryl Clemens
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for internal affairs investigators? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for internal affairs investigator jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of internal affairs investigators in America is $115,000.
Maryland is the best state for jobs for internal affairs investigators, and South Carolina is the worst. The most common pay in Maryland is $88,321, while the median pay in South Carolina is $33,876.We found that Maryland is the best state for internal affairs investigator jobs, whereas South Carolina is the worst.
10 best states for internal affairs investigators in 2025
1. Maryland
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 532 Average annual salary: $88,321 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
2. District of Columbia
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 246 Average annual salary: $75,647 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.85
3. New York
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 1,151 Average annual salary: $73,508 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
4. Rhode Island
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 110 Average annual salary: $67,045 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
5. California
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 2,695 Average annual salary: $71,574 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
6. New Jersey
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 714 Average annual salary: $69,947 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
7. Oregon
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 436 Average annual salary: $65,921 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
8. Pennsylvania
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 1,132 Average annual salary: $61,439 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
9. Connecticut
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 273 Average annual salary: $68,320 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
10. Delaware
Total internal affairs investigator jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $65,818 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
Internal affairs investigator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an internal affairs investigator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an internal affairs investigator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $88,321 | $49,000 | 6,052,177 | 532 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $75,647 | $42,000 | 693,972 | 246 |
| 3 | New York | $73,508 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,151 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $67,045 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 110 |
| 5 | California | $71,574 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,695 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $69,947 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 714 |
| 7 | Oregon | $65,921 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 436 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $61,439 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,132 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $68,320 | $38,000 | 3,588,184 | 273 |
| 10 | Delaware | $65,818 | $36,000 | 961,939 | 107 |
| 11 | Nevada | $65,737 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 149 |
| 12 | Washington | $62,984 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 661 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $64,888 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 119 |
| 14 | Michigan | $59,158 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 660 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $66,203 | $37,000 | 6,859,819 | 628 |
| 16 | Ohio | $54,584 | $31,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,075 |
| 17 | Virginia | $63,122 | $34,000 | 8,470,020 | 760 |
| 18 | Montana | $56,741 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 106 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $61,100 | $51,000 | 1,427,538 | 87 |
| 20 | Maine | $61,712 | $34,000 | 1,335,907 | 82 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $62,319 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 67 |
| 22 | Alaska | $55,024 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 75 |
| 23 | Arizona | $57,983 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 457 |
| 24 | Utah | $53,562 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 274 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $51,172 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 457 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $53,665 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 151 |
| 27 | Colorado | $54,375 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 408 |
| 28 | Missouri | $44,648 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 674 |
| 29 | Vermont | $57,730 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 40 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $53,452 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 38 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $41,800 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 547 |
| 32 | Illinois | $51,883 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 834 |
| 33 | Texas | $51,264 | $28,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,312 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $42,717 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 259 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $42,651 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 264 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $46,796 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 450 |
| 37 | Indiana | $44,000 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 436 |
| 38 | Kansas | $48,350 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 144 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $47,241 | $32,000 | 755,393 | 52 |
| 40 | Idaho | $44,099 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 92 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $41,843 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 313 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $40,522 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 44 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $43,219 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 502 |
| 44 | Florida | $39,253 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,165 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $39,592 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 181 |
| 46 | Alabama | $40,523 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 236 |
| 47 | Georgia | $39,616 | $22,000 | 10,429,379 | 696 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $39,884 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 189 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,272 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 137 |
| 50 | Iowa | $38,200 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 165 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $33,876 | $18,000 | 5,024,369 | 259 |
Highest paying states for internal affairs investigators
| Rank | State | Avg. Internal Affairs Investigator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $88,321 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $75,647 |
| 3 | New York | $73,508 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $67,045 |
| 5 | California | $71,574 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $69,947 |
| 7 | Oregon | $65,921 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $61,439 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $68,320 |
| 10 | Delaware | $65,818 |
| 11 | Nevada | $65,737 |
| 12 | Washington | $62,984 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $64,888 |
| 14 | Michigan | $59,158 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $66,203 |
| 16 | Ohio | $54,584 |
| 17 | Virginia | $63,122 |
| 18 | Montana | $56,741 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $61,100 |
| 20 | Maine | $61,712 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $62,319 |
| 22 | Alaska | $55,024 |
| 23 | Arizona | $57,983 |
| 24 | Utah | $53,562 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $51,172 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $53,665 |
| 27 | Colorado | $54,375 |
| 28 | Missouri | $44,648 |
| 29 | Vermont | $57,730 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $53,452 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $41,800 |
| 32 | Illinois | $51,883 |
| 33 | Texas | $51,264 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $42,717 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $42,651 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $46,796 |
| 37 | Indiana | $44,000 |
| 38 | Kansas | $48,350 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $47,241 |
| 40 | Idaho | $44,099 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $41,843 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $40,522 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $43,219 |
| 44 | Florida | $39,253 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $39,592 |
| 46 | Alabama | $40,523 |
| 47 | Georgia | $39,616 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $39,884 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,272 |
| 50 | Iowa | $38,200 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $33,876 |
Expert opinions on the best states for internal affairs investigators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for internal affairs investigators to find work opportunities?
Daryl Clemens
President & Chairman of the Board, International Crime Scene Investigators Association
CSI jobs are primarily found with large police departments. Smaller departments (which is most of them) don't have the staff to specialize and will have patrol officers or detectives do the crime scene work in addition to their other duties.
Internal affairs investigator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025