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Best states for a senior investigator
Quoted expert
Daryl Clemens
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Senior investigator opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for senior investigators, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for senior investigators.As senior investigators are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for senior investigators. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a senior investigator, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
Maryland is the best state for jobs for senior investigators, and South Carolina is the worst. The most common pay in Maryland is $93,785, while the median pay in South Carolina is $34,975.We found that the South is best for senior investigators, and the West is the worst. Frederick, MD is the best city in the country for senior investigator jobs, where as Maryland is the best state in the country.
10 best states for senior investigators in 2025
1. Maryland
Total senior investigator jobs: 459 Average annual salary: $93,785 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
2. Oregon
Total senior investigator jobs: 295 Average annual salary: $84,528 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
3. Washington
Total senior investigator jobs: 484 Average annual salary: $91,043 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
4. Montana
Total senior investigator jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $79,625 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
5. District of Columbia
Total senior investigator jobs: 149 Average annual salary: $80,675 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
6. California
Total senior investigator jobs: 2,215 Average annual salary: $80,257 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
7. Alaska
Total senior investigator jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $72,564 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
8. Nevada
Total senior investigator jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $75,579 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
9. Pennsylvania
Total senior investigator jobs: 874 Average annual salary: $66,570 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
10. New York
Total senior investigator jobs: 712 Average annual salary: $77,939 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
Senior investigator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior investigator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior investigator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $93,785 | $54,000 | 6,052,177 | 459 |
| 2 | Oregon | $84,528 | $48,000 | 4,142,776 | 295 |
| 3 | Washington | $91,043 | $53,000 | 7,405,743 | 484 |
| 4 | Montana | $79,625 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 80 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $80,675 | $46,000 | 693,972 | 149 |
| 6 | California | $80,257 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,215 |
| 7 | Alaska | $72,564 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 65 |
| 8 | Nevada | $75,579 | $42,000 | 2,998,039 | 102 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $66,570 | $38,000 | 12,805,537 | 874 |
| 10 | New York | $77,939 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 712 |
| 11 | Michigan | $66,414 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 522 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $77,158 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 376 |
| 13 | Delaware | $68,960 | $39,000 | 961,939 | 89 |
| 14 | Virginia | $68,460 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 643 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $71,029 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 185 |
| 16 | Ohio | $61,513 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 936 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $70,322 | $42,000 | 1,059,639 | 51 |
| 18 | Utah | $65,132 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 214 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $72,489 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 345 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $68,547 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 54 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $68,724 | $59,000 | 1,427,538 | 82 |
| 22 | Maine | $69,218 | $42,000 | 1,335,907 | 50 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $69,366 | $42,000 | 1,342,795 | 64 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $60,844 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 369 |
| 25 | Colorado | $63,838 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 343 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $64,640 | $39,000 | 869,666 | 26 |
| 27 | Arizona | $60,588 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 342 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $60,698 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 110 |
| 29 | Illinois | $61,372 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 590 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $50,674 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 222 |
| 31 | Vermont | $63,716 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 27 |
| 32 | Missouri | $50,346 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 591 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $45,490 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 505 |
| 34 | Idaho | $55,689 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 75 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $47,108 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 220 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $57,978 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 27 |
| 37 | Texas | $51,908 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 915 |
| 38 | Kansas | $53,348 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 102 |
| 39 | Iowa | $53,098 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 119 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $52,690 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 275 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $51,276 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 24 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $43,075 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 159 |
| 43 | Indiana | $43,487 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 339 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $42,700 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 167 |
| 45 | Georgia | $41,064 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 616 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $45,322 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 206 |
| 47 | Alabama | $42,646 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 209 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $41,995 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 109 |
| 49 | Florida | $35,293 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,032 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $45,856 | $25,000 | 10,273,419 | 291 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $34,975 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 188 |
Highest paying states for senior investigators
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Investigator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $93,785 |
| 2 | Oregon | $84,528 |
| 3 | Washington | $91,043 |
| 4 | Montana | $79,625 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $80,675 |
| 6 | California | $80,257 |
| 7 | Alaska | $72,564 |
| 8 | Nevada | $75,579 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $66,570 |
| 10 | New York | $77,939 |
| 11 | Michigan | $66,414 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $77,158 |
| 13 | Delaware | $68,960 |
| 14 | Virginia | $68,460 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $71,029 |
| 16 | Ohio | $61,513 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $70,322 |
| 18 | Utah | $65,132 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $72,489 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $68,547 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $68,724 |
| 22 | Maine | $69,218 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $69,366 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $60,844 |
| 25 | Colorado | $63,838 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $64,640 |
| 27 | Arizona | $60,588 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $60,698 |
| 29 | Illinois | $61,372 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $50,674 |
| 31 | Vermont | $63,716 |
| 32 | Missouri | $50,346 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $45,490 |
| 34 | Idaho | $55,689 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $47,108 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $57,978 |
| 37 | Texas | $51,908 |
| 38 | Kansas | $53,348 |
| 39 | Iowa | $53,098 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $52,690 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $51,276 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $43,075 |
| 43 | Indiana | $43,487 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $42,700 |
| 45 | Georgia | $41,064 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $45,322 |
| 47 | Alabama | $42,646 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $41,995 |
| 49 | Florida | $35,293 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $45,856 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $34,975 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior investigators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025