You’ve been working toward a promotion that will land you that coveted police detective job. In addition to the excitement, pride, and personal and professional satisfaction that come with becoming a criminal investigator, your earning power as a detective is well worth the pursuit.
As of May 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that detectives and criminal investigators earned an average salary of $90,370 – that’s about $20,000 more annually than the average salary for police and sheriff’s patrol officers ($70,750).
Salaries for detectives and criminal investigators vary slightly based on whether they work for local or state law enforcement. The annual average salary for police detectives working for sheriff’s departments and other local police departments was $78,730 as of May 2021, while those working for state police departments earned slightly less, at $70,470.
In addition to time served on the job, other factors like higher rank and specialized duties have a significant impact on a police officer’s salary. Uniformed police officers with a lot of drive and dedication can achieve the rank of detective after several years of service and a lot of hard. That hard work is rewarded with considerably higher salaries. The BLS reports that as of May 2021, early career (25th percentile) police detectives earned about $61,600, while those at the top end of the pay scale (90th percentile) earned about $146,830.
Detectives may also obtain special skills related to hostage negotiations, special operations or digital forensics that would allow them to enter more exclusive units. Detectives in these units usually receive hazard pay and other incentives beyond the base salary because of their additional training and the fact that they are more likely to work in high-risk situations.
You’ll also find that the cost of living in a specific state or locality plays a big part in what you can expect to earn as a police detective. According to the BLS, the top-paying states for criminal investigators and detectives (according to average salary) as of May 2021 were:
- Alaska: $126,810
- Washington D.C.: $123,760
- Maryland: $115,660
- Hawaii: $111,130
- Washington: $108,550
The top-paying metro areas for police detectives during this time were:
- NYC (includes Jersey City and Newark), NY-NJ-PA: $114,760
- Washington D.C. (includes Arlington and Alexandria, VA): $123,460
- San Diego (includes Carlsbad), CA: $106,620
- Los Angeles (includes Long Beach and Anaheim), CA: $115,860
- Miami (includes Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach), FL: $96,610
- Chicago (includes Naperville and Elgin), IL-IN-WI: $101,600
The following BLS table provides an overview of state salaries for detectives and criminal investigators serving at the municipal, county and state level as of May 2021:
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for detectives and criminal investigators. Job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2022.