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Child protective investigator salary
Average child protective investigator salary
$47,903
Understanding the Child Protective Investigator Salary
The average salary for a Child Protective Investigator stands at $47,903 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographical location, experience level, and specific employer. For instance, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for these professionals.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start lower, while seasoned investigators can earn considerably more. As professionals gain experience, they may also find opportunities for advancement into supervisory or specialized roles, further enhancing their earning potential.
Job Opportunities
Many Child Protective Investigators work within government agencies, non-profits, or private organizations, each offering unique benefits and salary structures. Understanding the various pathways available in this field can help prospective applicants make informed career decisions.
Conclusion
For those considering a career as a Child Protective Investigator, researching salary ranges in specific states and gaining relevant experience are crucial steps. This ensures you can maximize your income while making a significant impact in your community.
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Where can a Child Protective Investigator earn more?
Child protective investigator salaries by experience level
Child protective investigator salary estimates from across the web
Average child protective investigator salary by state
The highest-paying states for child protective investigators are New Jersey, Washington, and Minnesota. The lowest average child protective investigator salary states are Indiana, Alabama, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for child protective investigators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $59,778 | $28.74 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $66,649 | $32.04 |
| 3 | Texas | $52,251 | $25.12 |
| 4 | New York | $53,829 | $25.88 |
| 5 | Maryland | $54,946 | $26.42 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $54,028 | $25.98 |
| 7 | Idaho | $49,325 | $23.71 |
| 8 | Alaska | $50,237 | $24.15 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $57,777 | $27.78 |
| 10 | Nevada | $54,023 | $25.97 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $54,249 | $26.08 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $48,330 | $23.24 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $46,911 | $22.55 |
| 14 | Kansas | $46,904 | $22.55 |
| 15 | Oregon | $50,700 | $24.38 |
| 16 | Montana | $44,337 | $21.32 |
| 17 | Virginia | $47,265 | $22.72 |
| 18 | Illinois | $49,293 | $23.70 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $47,008 | $22.60 |
| 20 | California | $49,249 | $23.68 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $46,702 | $22.45 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $42,904 | $20.63 |
| 23 | Iowa | $44,867 | $21.57 |
| 24 | Arizona | $42,713 | $20.54 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $42,102 | $20.24 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $40,917 | $19.67 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $44,051 | $21.18 |
| 28 | Maine | $43,082 | $20.71 |
| 29 | Colorado | $44,113 | $21.21 |
| 30 | Vermont | $41,677 | $20.04 |
| 31 | Ohio | $42,757 | $20.56 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $41,507 | $19.96 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $38,274 | $18.40 |
| 34 | Utah | $42,964 | $20.66 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $39,204 | $18.85 |
| 36 | Michigan | $41,427 | $19.92 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $43,294 | $20.81 |
| 38 | Florida | $38,052 | $18.29 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $39,994 | $19.23 |
| 40 | Georgia | $38,962 | $18.73 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $40,941 | $19.68 |
| 42 | Delaware | $38,333 | $18.43 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $33,318 | $16.02 |
| 45 | Missouri | $37,815 | $18.18 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $38,535 | $18.53 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $35,415 | $17.03 |
| 48 | Alabama | $35,775 | $17.20 |
| 49 | Indiana | $35,986 | $17.30 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $34,758 | $16.71 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $30,037 | $14.44 |
Highest paying cities for child protective investigators
The highest-paying cities for child protective investigators are Camden, NJ, Olympia, WA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camden, NJ | $66,291 | $31.87 |
| 2 | Olympia, WA | $60,096 | $28.89 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $53,983 | $25.95 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $51,633 | $24.82 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $50,778 | $24.41 |
| 6 | Arcadia, CA | $48,808 | $23.47 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $48,550 | $23.34 |
| 8 | Overland Park, KS | $46,872 | $22.53 |
| 9 | Centennial, CO | $44,068 | $21.19 |
| 10 | Quincy, MA | $41,519 | $19.96 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $41,441 | $19.92 |
| 12 | Milton, GA | $38,986 | $18.74 |
| 13 | Pensacola, FL | $38,664 | $18.59 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $37,648 | $18.10 |
Child protective investigator salary details
A child protective investigator's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $61,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a child protective investigator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $47,903 | $3,992 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying child protective investigator jobs
The highest paying types of child protective investigators are school social worker, child welfare specialist, and protective service specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Worker | $25,735 | $2,145 | $12.37 | 82,353 |
| Youth Worker | $32,242 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 87,360 |
| Family Support Worker | $38,207 | $3,184 | $18.37 | 159,875 |
| Youth Advocate | $33,924 | $2,827 | $16.31 | 78,437 |
| Family Worker | $36,992 | $3,083 | $17.78 | 101,552 |
| School Social Worker | $54,856 | $4,571 | $26.37 | 122,376 |
Top companies hiring child protective investigators now:
Which companies pay child protective investigators the most?
Child protective investigator salaries at Saks Fifth Avenue and Abercrombie & Fitch Co are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average child protective investigator salary at companies like Victoria's Secret and Washington State University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saks Fifth Avenue | $65,357 | $31.42 |
| 2 | Abercrombie & Fitch Co | $65,243 | $31.37 |
| 3 | Victoria's Secret | $61,665 | $29.65 |
| 4 | Washington State University | $57,347 | $27.57 |
| 5 | Manatee County Sheriff's Office | $51,834 | $24.92 |
| 6 | Springwell | $45,616 | $21.93 |
| 7 | Missouri Enterprise | $45,241 | $21.75 |
| 8 | Public Consulting Group | $45,056 | $21.66 |
| 9 | Macy's | $43,526 | $20.93 |
| 10 | Maine | $43,092 | $20.72 |
| 11 | Wake County | $42,754 | $20.55 |
| 12 | Summit County | $42,713 | $20.54 |
| 13 | My Florida Regional Mls | $42,086 | $20.23 |
| 14 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $41,225 | $19.82 |
| 15 | Walmart | $39,991 | $19.23 |
| 16 | Florida Dept. of Health | $39,345 | $18.92 |
| 17 | Rite Aid | $39,321 | $18.90 |
| 18 | State Of Florida | $38,207 | $18.37 |
| 19 | Florida Department of Transportation | $36,966 | $17.77 |
| 20 | Lunds & Byerlys | $36,603 | $17.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Child protective investigator salary trends
The average child protective investigator salary has risen by $7,666 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average child protective investigator earned $40,237 annually, but today, they earn $47,903 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for child protective investigators over the last decade.
Compare child protective investigator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average child protective investigator salary over time
Compare child protective investigator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Child protective investigator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,900 | $23.03 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $46,900 | $22.54 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $45,800 | $22.00 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $43,900 | $21.10 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $42,800 | $20.57 | +2.1% |
Recently added child protective investigator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abercrombie & Fitch Co | Investigator, Asset Protection | Nyack, NY | 06/29/2025 | $59,688 |
| Saks & Company | Asset Protection Investigator | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $49,211 |
| Saks & Company | Asset Protection Investigator | Atlanta, GA | 06/29/2025 | $42,784 |
| Saks & Company | Asset Protection Investigator | Houston, TX | 06/29/2025 | $42,784 |
| External Ocean State Job Lot | Asset Protection Investigator-Corporate Offices | North Kingstown, RI | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Ocean State Job Lot | Asset Protection Investigator-Corporate Offices | North Kingstown, RI | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Saks & Company | Asset Protection Investigator | Boston, MA | 06/27/2025 | $49,211 |
| Saks & Company | Asset Protection Investigator | Columbus, OH | 06/27/2025 | $42,784 |
| Saks & Company | Asset Protection Investigator | Chevy Chase, MD | 06/27/2025 | $49,211 |
| Saks & Company | Asset Protection Investigator | Bal Harbour, FL | 06/27/2025 | $44,933 |
Child protective investigator salary FAQs
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