Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Utah is $78,920/year ($37.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $149K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $80,089 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,350/month, or 26% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Utah?
About detectives and criminal investigators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Utah
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Utah runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $94K. Rent runs $1,350/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $149K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Utah
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $88K | +12% | 50 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $82K | +3% | 370 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $53K | -33% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 26.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,882/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $79K here vs. $94K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Utah pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Utah?
The median is $78,920 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,040, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $149,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,020/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 26.9% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $80,089 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.