Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA is $121,100/year ($58.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $163K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.61), so that salary is closer to $114,667 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,031/month, or 26% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $121K get you in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard’s Regional Price Parity (105.61). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard sits well above the national pay line for detectives and criminal investigators, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $94K. Rent runs $2,031/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.61), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for detectives and criminal investigators in metros near Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $124K | $111K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $107K | $107K |
| Bellingham | $123K | $119K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $89K | $86K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $121K. Top earners bring in $163K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $161K | +71% | 2,980 |
| Maryland | $127K | +35% | 1,010 |
| California | $125K | +33% | 12,610 |
| Delaware | $122K | +30% | 140 |
| New Jersey | $116K | +24% | 3,080 |
| Washington | $116K | +23% | 1,850 |
| Alaska | $115K | +23% | 140 |
| Hawaii | $114K | +21% | 440 |
| Virginia | $113K | +20% | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $110K | +17% | 1,300 |
| Oregon | $107K | +15% | 520 |
| Vermont | $106K | +13% | 190 |
| Colorado | $105K | +12% | 1,930 |
| Arizona | $102K | +9% | 5,250 |
| New York | $101K | +8% | 9,600 |
| Nebraska | $101K | +7% | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | +4% | 3,370 |
| Connecticut | $95K | +2% | 940 |
| Nevada | $94K | +1% | 590 |
| West Virginia | $92K | -1% | 220 |
| Montana | $92K | -1% | 500 |
| Illinois | $91K | -3% | 3,270 |
| Wisconsin | $91K | -3% | 1,640 |
| Michigan | $91K | -3% | 2,220 |
| Texas | $91K | -3% | 18,870 |
| New Hampshire | $89K | -5% | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $88K | -6% | 360 |
| Maine | $88K | -6% | 550 |
| New Mexico | $87K | -7% | 2,020 |
| North Dakota | $82K | -12% | 420 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -13% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -14% | 1,220 |
| Minnesota | $80K | -15% | 1,970 |
| Iowa | $80K | -15% | 410 |
| Ohio | $79K | -15% | 2,140 |
| Utah | $79K | -16% | 550 |
| South Dakota | $78K | -17% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -18% | 1,860 |
| Florida | $77K | -18% | 6,440 |
| Kansas | $76K | -19% | 1,060 |
| Missouri | $76K | -19% | 1,600 |
| Idaho | $73K | -23% | 630 |
| Kentucky | $72K | -24% | 720 |
| Indiana | $70K | -25% | 1,280 |
| Alabama | $66K | -29% | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $65K | -30% | 5,070 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -33% | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -33% | 1,470 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -36% | 1,740 |
| Mississippi | $59K | -37% | 810 |
| Arkansas | $55K | -42% | 560 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
Yes — at the median salary of $121K, rent takes 26.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,031/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,323/month. At HUD’s $2,031/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $121K here vs. $94K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard pays $121K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA?
The median is $121,100 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,710, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $162,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $121K enough to live in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,794/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,031/month, which eats 26.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a detectives and criminal investigators salary go in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard has a Regional Price Parity of 105.61 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median detectives and criminal investigators salary is worth about $114,667 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do detectives and criminal investigators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
