Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in New York is $101,240/year ($48.67/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $103,085 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,917/month, about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in New York?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in New York
Detectives and criminal investigators pay in New York tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $94K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,917/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $105K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in New York
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $112K | +10% | 270 |
| Rochester | $108K | +6% | 450 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $106K | +5% | 7,580 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $106K | +5% | 70 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $99K | -2% | 960 |
| Syracuse | $98K | -3% | 340 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $95K | -6% | 850 |
| Binghamton | $91K | -10% | 100 |
| Utica-Rome | $90K | -11% | 130 |
| Kingston | $88K | -13% | 70 |
| Glens Falls | $80K | -21% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 30.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/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 New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,728/month. At HUD’s $1,917/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 New York?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $94K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does New York compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
New York pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in New York?
The median is $101,240 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,130, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $166,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,215/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 30.8% 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 New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $103,085 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.