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Criminal investigator salary
Average criminal investigator salary
$54,520
Average Criminal Investigator Salary
The average salary for a criminal investigator stands at $54,520 annually, translating to approximately $26 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as state, level of experience, and specific job responsibilities. For example, locations with higher living costs, like California and New York, often offer greater compensation to attract skilled professionals.
Where Can a Criminal Investigator Earn More?
Investigation roles in metropolitan areas generally yield higher salaries. States like California, New York, and Texas are among the highest-paying for criminal investigators, reflecting demand for skilled law enforcement personnel. Additionally, specialized roles within criminal investigations, such as cybercrime or forensic analysis, may command higher pay due to the advanced skills required.
Career Growth and Opportunities
Criminal investigators can advance their careers by gaining experience and pursuing additional training or certifications. Opportunities for promotion to supervisory roles often arise, allowing for increased responsibilities and higher salaries. Engaging in continuous education can further enhance earning potential and job stability.
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Where can a Criminal Investigator earn more?
Criminal investigator salary estimates from across the web
Average criminal investigator salary by state
The average criminal investigator salary in California, Maryland, and North Dakota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average criminal investigator salary states are Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for criminal investigators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $90,322 | $43.42 |
| 2 | California | $74,294 | $35.72 |
| 3 | Maryland | $68,609 | $32.99 |
| 4 | Virginia | $62,015 | $29.81 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $57,313 | $27.55 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $57,757 | $27.77 |
| 7 | Illinois | $64,802 | $31.15 |
| 8 | Colorado | $62,159 | $29.88 |
| 9 | Ohio | $54,850 | $26.37 |
| 10 | Montana | $56,744 | $27.28 |
| 11 | New York | $61,293 | $29.47 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $65,874 | $31.67 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $57,705 | $27.74 |
| 14 | Maine | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| 15 | Michigan | $55,656 | $26.76 |
| 16 | Washington | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| 17 | Alaska | $57,847 | $27.81 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $60,434 | $29.05 |
| 19 | Delaware | $55,668 | $26.76 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $58,264 | $28.01 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $57,903 | $27.84 |
| 22 | Arizona | $55,032 | $26.46 |
| 23 | Idaho | $56,927 | $27.37 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $57,136 | $27.47 |
| 25 | Texas | $54,448 | $26.18 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $53,192 | $25.57 |
| 27 | Missouri | $49,022 | $23.57 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $54,252 | $26.08 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $51,378 | $24.70 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $55,235 | $26.56 |
| 31 | Nevada | $51,485 | $24.75 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $55,374 | $26.62 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $44,569 | $21.43 |
| 34 | Oregon | $48,192 | $23.17 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $50,936 | $24.49 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $45,248 | $21.75 |
| 37 | Vermont | $51,655 | $24.83 |
| 38 | Utah | $45,487 | $21.87 |
| 39 | Florida | $45,532 | $21.89 |
| 40 | Indiana | $45,181 | $21.72 |
| 41 | Iowa | $47,854 | $23.01 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $45,484 | $21.87 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $46,432 | $22.32 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $44,458 | $21.37 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $41,650 | $20.02 |
| 46 | Georgia | $43,394 | $20.86 |
| 47 | Alabama | $43,164 | $20.75 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $41,471 | $19.94 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $42,452 | $20.41 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $43,767 | $21.04 |
| 51 | Kansas | $42,330 | $20.35 |
Highest paying cities for criminal investigators
The highest-paying cities for criminal investigators are Washington, DC, Sacramento, CA, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $90,383 | $43.45 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $77,228 | $37.13 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $68,717 | $33.04 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $65,088 | $31.29 |
| 5 | Norfolk, VA | $62,153 | $29.88 |
| 6 | Lakewood, CO | $62,133 | $29.87 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $61,942 | $29.78 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $61,624 | $29.63 |
| 9 | Newark, NJ | $60,368 | $29.02 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $59,018 | $28.37 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,211 | $27.99 |
| 12 | Anchorage, AK | $58,018 | $27.89 |
| 13 | Jackson, MS | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $57,511 | $27.65 |
| 15 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $57,121 | $27.46 |
| 16 | Billings, MT | $56,736 | $27.28 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $55,988 | $26.92 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $55,335 | $26.60 |
| 19 | Manchester, NH | $55,262 | $26.57 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $55,226 | $26.55 |
Criminal investigator salary details
A criminal investigator's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a criminal investigator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| Average | $54,520 | $4,543 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying criminal investigator jobs
The highest paying types of criminal investigators are investigator, special agent, and detective.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Safety Officer | $36,596 | $3,050 | $17.59 | 122,048 |
| Police Officer | $52,638 | $4,386 | $25.31 | 116,287 |
| Law Enforcement Officer | $39,219 | $3,268 | $18.86 | 105,817 |
| Deputy | $53,682 | $4,473 | $25.81 | 56,150 |
| Detective | $57,984 | $4,832 | $27.88 | 56,521 |
| Military Police Officer | $38,080 | $3,173 | $18.31 | 122,487 |
Top companies hiring criminal investigators now:
Which companies pay criminal investigators the most?
Criminal investigator salaries at National Railroad Passenger Corporation and Defense Intelligence Agency are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average criminal investigator salary at companies like U.s.government and Small Business Administration are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Railroad Passenger Corporation | $68,033 | $32.71 |
| 2 | Defense Intelligence Agency | $63,002 | $30.29 |
| 3 | U.s.government | $60,646 | $29.16 |
| 4 | Small Business Administration | $58,166 | $27.96 |
| 5 | Government Accountability Project | $56,655 | $27.24 |
| 6 | Social Security Administration | $56,289 | $27.06 |
| 7 | Colorado State Express | $54,801 | $26.35 |
| 8 | U.S. Secret Service | $52,875 | $25.42 |
| 9 | My Florida Regional Mls | $52,299 | $25.14 |
| 10 | Department of Homeland Security | $51,105 | $24.57 |
| 11 | Louisiana State Police | $49,796 | $23.94 |
| 12 | Santa Clara County | $47,341 | $22.76 |
| 13 | El Paso County | $46,941 | $22.57 |
| 14 | McLennan County | $42,841 | $20.60 |
| 15 | NC.gov | $42,115 | $20.25 |
| 16 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $42,069 | $20.23 |
| 17 | Florida Department of Transportation | $41,928 | $20.16 |
| 18 | State Of Idaho | $41,486 | $19.95 |
| 19 | University of Arkansas | $41,244 | $19.83 |
| 20 | State Of Florida | $40,811 | $19.62 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Criminal investigator salary trends
The average criminal investigator salary has risen by $9,513 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average criminal investigator earned $45,007 annually, but today, they earn $54,520 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for criminal investigators over the last decade.
Compare criminal investigator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average criminal investigator salary over time
Compare criminal investigator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Criminal investigator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,500 | $26.21 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $52,200 | $25.07 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $51,400 | $24.70 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $50,100 | $24.11 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $49,000 | $23.55 | +1.2% |
Recently added criminal investigator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | Criminal Investigator | Washington, DC | 06/28/2025 | $101,401 |
| State of Louisiana | Criminal Investigator/3 | Lake Charles, LA | 06/27/2025 | $46,039 |
| Arapahoe County (Co | Criminal Investigator | Littleton, CO | 06/24/2025 | $99,000 |
| Department of Labor | Criminal Investigator | Washington, DC | 06/24/2025 | $84,601 |
| Department of The Interior | Criminal Investigator | New Town, ND | 06/24/2025 | $63,148 |
| Department of The Interior | Criminal Investigator | Albuquerque, NM | 06/20/2025 | $89,583 |
| Department of Justice | Supervisory Criminal Investigator (Deputy Chief) | Washington, DC | 06/20/2025 | $167,603 |
| Department of The Interior | Criminal Investigator | Riverside, CA | 06/20/2025 | $63,148 |
| State of Massachusetts | Criminal Investigator | Boston, MA | 06/12/2025 | $66,736 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Criminal Investigator (Reemployed Annuitant & Ictap) | Washington, DC | 06/05/2025 | $75,706 |
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