Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in New Mexico is $86,840/year ($41.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $93,316 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in New Mexico?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Detectives and criminal investigators pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $87K locally vs. $94K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 20.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $106K | +22% | 560 |
| Santa Fe | $76K | -12% | 60 |
| Farmington | $70K | -20% | 40 |
| Albuquerque | $47K | -45% | 680 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 20.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,849/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $94K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
New Mexico pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in New Mexico?
The median is $86,840 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,480, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $111,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,518/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 20.3% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $93,316 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.