Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area is $79,770/year ($38.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $80K actually covers in Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area, month by month
About detectives and criminal investigators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $59K 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 annually. We'll email you when Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,199/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,059/month.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $80K here vs. $94K nationally.
How does Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -15%.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $79,770 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,870, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $120,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,036/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,199/month, which eats 23.8% 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 Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median detectives and criminal investigators salary is worth about $79,770 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.