Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL is $50,700/year ($24.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.69), which stretches that salary to about $53,543 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,345/month, about 40.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Daphne-Fairhope-Foley’s Regional Price Parity (94.69). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley runs about 46% below the U.S. median of $94K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,345/month, which is 39.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.69 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for detectives and criminal investigatorss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for detectives and criminal investigators in metros near Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $91K | $98K |
| Birmingham | $80K | $87K |
| Montgomery | $71K | $79K |
| Mobile | $98K | $112K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $40K 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 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 39.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,345/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,903/month. At HUD’s $1,345/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley?
Local pay runs 46% below the national median — $51K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Daphne-Fairhope-Foley compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -46%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.69), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL?
The median is $50,700 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,380, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $88,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,367/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,345/month, which eats 39.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a detectives and criminal investigators salary go in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley?
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley has a Regional Price Parity of 94.69 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median detectives and criminal investigators salary is worth about $53,543 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.