Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Charleston, WV is $92,410/year ($44.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers.
So what does $92K get you in Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (88.7). 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 Charleston
Detectives and criminal investigators pay in Charleston tracks closely to the national median, $92K locally vs. $94K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $874/month, 15.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for detectives and criminal investigators in metros near Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $57K | , |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $98K | , |
| Pittsburgh | $95K | , |
| Columbus | $79K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston, WV
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $117K 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 states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Charleston numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 15.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $874/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,016/month. At HUD’s $874/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Charleston?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $92K locally vs. $94K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Charleston compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Charleston pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Charleston, WV?
The median is $92,410 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,270, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $166,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,796/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $874/month, which eats 15.1% 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 Charleston?
Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median detectives and criminal investigators salary is worth about $104,183 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.