Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Waco, TX is $70,990/year ($34.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.55), which stretches that salary to about $76,704 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $973/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $71K get you in Waco?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waco’s Regional Price Parity (92.55). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Waco
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Waco runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $973/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.55 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Waco 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 Waco, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $86K | $88K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $86K | $84K |
| El Paso | $109K | $122K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $79K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waco, TX
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $99K 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 Waco numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Waco?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $973/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Waco?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,286/month. At HUD’s $973/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Waco?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $71K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Waco compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Waco pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Waco, TX?
The median is $70,990 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,760, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $153,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Waco?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,861/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $973/month, which eats 20% 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 Waco?
Waco has a Regional Price Parity of 92.55 (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 $76,704 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.