California Median
$124,840
per year
Hourly Rate
$60.02
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+33% vs US median
US median $93,790
State Rank
#3 of 51
12,610 employed here
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in California?
Detectives and Criminal Investigators working in California earn a median salary of $124,840 per year, or about $60.02 per hour. That is 33% above the national median of $93,790 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $78,280 while the top 10% make $165,510 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $99,270 and $136,020 a year.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,280 | $37.63 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $99,270 | $47.73 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $124,840 | $60.02 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $136,020 | $65.39 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,510 | $79.57 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other states
District of Columbia $160,760Maryland $126,730Delaware $122,050New Jersey $116,300Washington $115,790Alaska $114,940Hawaii $113,940Virginia $112,760Massachusetts $110,150Oregon $107,450Vermont $106,330Colorado $105,480Arizona $102,340New York $101,240Nebraska $100,530Pennsylvania $97,580Connecticut $95,240Nevada $94,470Montana $92,410West Virginia $92,410Illinois $91,190Wisconsin $91,040Michigan $90,650Texas $90,510New Hampshire $89,290Rhode Island $88,450Maine $88,310New Mexico $86,840North Dakota $82,290Wyoming $81,880Oklahoma $80,430Minnesota $80,000Iowa $79,560Ohio $79,300Utah $78,920South Dakota $77,730Tennessee $77,090Florida $77,060Kansas $75,740Missouri $75,650Idaho $72,520Kentucky $71,670Indiana $70,340Alabama $66,290Georgia $65,430North Carolina $63,280South Carolina $62,760Louisiana $60,450Mississippi $58,640Arkansas $54,500
Working as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California
Nationally, about 114,000 people work as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($124,840) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in California?
The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in California is $124,840 per year, or about $60.02 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $78,280 at the entry level to $165,510 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Detectives and Criminal Investigators about 33% more than the national median of $93,790. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Detectives and Criminal Investigators?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $124,840 a year. About 12,610 Detectives and Criminal Investigators are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.