Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT is $81,660/year ($39.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.87), that's roughly $80,956 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,241/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $82K get you in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salt Lake City-Murray’s Regional Price Parity (100.87). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Salt Lake City-Murray
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Salt Lake City-Murray runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,241/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.87) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Salt Lake City-Murray can be a reasonable trade-off for detectives and criminal investigatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for detectives and criminal investigators in metros near Salt Lake City-Murray, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $88K | $88K |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $53K | $53K |
| Tucson | $105K | $109K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $113K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $104K 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 quarterly. We'll email you when Salt Lake City-Murray numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,241/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Salt Lake City-Murray?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,971/month. At HUD’s $1,241/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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $82K here vs. $94K nationally.
How does Salt Lake City-Murray compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Salt Lake City-Murray pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.87), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The median is $81,660 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,510, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $153,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Salt Lake City-Murray?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,170/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,241/month, which eats 24% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Salt Lake City-Murray has a Regional Price Parity of 100.87 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median detectives and criminal investigators salary is worth about $80,956 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.