Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Pennsylvania is $97,580/year ($46.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $102,748 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $98K get you in Pennsylvania?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Detectives and criminal investigators pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $94K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Pennsylvania
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $98K | +0% | 2,160 |
| Lancaster | $97K | -0% | 60 |
| Erie | $96K | -1% | 100 |
| York-Hanover | $96K | -2% | 80 |
| Reading | $95K | -2% | 80 |
| Pittsburgh | $95K | -3% | 580 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $95K | -3% | 190 |
| State College | $90K | -8% | 50 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $82K | -16% | 140 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $81K | -17% | 300 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,826/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $94K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Pennsylvania pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $97,580 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,770, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $154,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,170/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 21.9% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $102,748 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.