Life As a Detective or Criminal Investigator
Detective or Criminal Investigator Definition Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of Federal, State, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
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Types of Detective or Criminal Investigator Jobs
- Homicide Detective
- Deputy United States Marshal
- Narcotics Investigator
- Narcotics Detective
- FBI Investigator
Is There Job Demand for Detectives and Criminal Investigators?
In the United States, there were 110,900 jobs for Detective or Criminal Investigator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,000 new jobs for Detective or Criminal Investigator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Detective or Criminal Investigator are Nevada, Utah, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Detective or Criminal Investigator Average Salary
Detectives and Criminal Investigators make between $43,800 and $138,860 a year.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $64,750 |
Alaska | $118,360 |
Arizona | $81,810 |
Arkansas | $60,340 |
California | $107,120 |
Colorado | $87,280 |
Connecticut | $90,470 |
Delaware | $89,930 |
District of Columbia | $122,460 |
Florida | $76,560 |
Georgia | $66,430 |
Hawaii | $107,010 |
Idaho | $73,510 |
Illinois | $87,470 |
Indiana | $75,150 |
Iowa | $73,320 |
Kansas | $62,260 |
Kentucky | $71,300 |
Louisiana | $65,090 |
Maine | $70,620 |
Maryland | $102,370 |
Massachusetts | $101,800 |
Michigan | $86,580 |
Minnesota | $76,640 |
Mississippi | $64,150 |
Missouri | $70,860 |
Montana | $81,210 |
Nebraska | $73,480 |
Nevada | $87,680 |
New Hampshire | $80,370 |
New Jersey | $102,600 |
New Mexico | $77,890 |
New York | $91,250 |
North Carolina | $60,810 |
North Dakota | $84,340 |
Ohio | $75,310 |
Oklahoma | $66,130 |
Oregon | $93,840 |
Pennsylvania | $85,730 |
Rhode Island | $86,580 |
South Carolina | $60,420 |
South Dakota | $72,050 |
Tennessee | $71,940 |
Texas | $79,950 |
Utah | $80,840 |
Vermont | $83,060 |
Virginia | $98,850 |
Washington | $85,440 |
West Virginia | $86,340 |
Wisconsin | $76,590 |
Wyoming | $81,750 |
Who Employs Detectives and Criminal Investigators?

The table below shows the approximate number of Detectives and Criminal Investigators employed by various industries.

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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