Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Maryland is $126,730/year ($60.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $189K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $128,321 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $127K get you in Maryland?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for detectives and criminal investigators, local pay runs about 35% higher than the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,795/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Maryland offers a genuinely strong financial position for detectives and criminal investigatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $189K or more, a $118K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Maryland
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $128K | +1% | 490 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $99K | -22% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,272/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Maryland?
Local pay is 35% above the national median — $127K here vs. $94K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Maryland pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Maryland?
The median is $126,730 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,200, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $188,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,622/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 23.6% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $128,321 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.