Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Colorado is $105,480/year ($50.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $105K get you in Colorado?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $113K | +7% | 1,230 |
| Grand Junction | $106K | +1% | 70 |
| Pueblo | $106K | +0% | 30 |
| Boulder | $103K | -2% | 50 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $103K | -2% | 60 |
| Greeley | $98K | -7% | 50 |
| Colorado Springs | $86K | -19% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,381/month.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $105K here vs. $94K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Colorado pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +12%.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Colorado?
The median is $105,480 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,010, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $161,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,496/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a detectives and criminal investigators salary go in Colorado?
Colorado 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 $105,480 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.