Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Georgia is $65,430/year ($31.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $149K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $71,205 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $65K get you in Georgia?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Georgia runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $94K. Rent runs $1,434/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $149K or more, a $102K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Georgia
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $158K | +142% | 240 |
| Warner Robins | $74K | +13% | 70 |
| Savannah | $72K | +11% | 170 |
| Albany | $71K | +8% | 70 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $70K | +7% | 3,070 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $69K | +5% | 240 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $65K | -1% | 230 |
| Gainesville | $63K | -4% | 80 |
| Hinesville | $60K | -8% | 40 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $59K | -10% | 90 |
| Valdosta | $56K | -15% | 50 |
| Columbus | $50K | -23% | 170 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,807/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Georgia?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $65K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Georgia pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Georgia?
The median is $65,430 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,790, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $149,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,273/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 33.6% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $71,205 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.