Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Texas
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Texas is $89,860/year ($43.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $90K get you in Texas?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $87K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Texas
26 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $107K | +19% | 760 |
| El Paso | $107K | +19% | 1,760 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $104K | +16% | 1,660 |
| Laredo | $96K | +7% | 1,320 |
| San Angelo | $96K | +6% | 60 |
| Eagle Pass | $90K | +0% | 520 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $86K | -4% | 1,830 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $85K | -5% | 1,850 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $83K | -8% | 1,600 |
| Corpus Christi | $82K | -9% | 200 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $77K | -14% | 1,680 |
| College Station-Bryan | $75K | -16% | 60 |
| Waco | $75K | -16% | 100 |
| Sherman-Denison | $73K | -18% | 40 |
| Midland | $72K | -19% | 40 |
| Lubbock | $71K | -20% | 270 |
| Tyler | $70K | -22% | 80 |
| Amarillo | $67K | -25% | 80 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $63K | -30% | 80 |
| Killeen-Temple | $60K | -33% | 100 |
| Odessa | $60K | -33% | 30 |
| Texarkana | $59K | -34% | 30 |
| Victoria | $59K | -35% | 50 |
| Abilene | $57K | -37% | 50 |
| Longview | $56K | -38% | 50 |
| Wichita Falls | $52K | -42% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 26 metros
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Texas?
The median is $89,860 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,920, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $137,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,967/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 23.7% 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 Texas?
Texas 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 $98,218 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.