Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $96,040 +2.6% vs national
Median hourly $46.17
10th percentile $59,740
90th percentile $157,480
Employed locally 830
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators
in
Buffalo, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,740
    25th
    $84,690
    50th (median)
    $96,040
    75th
    $112,700
    90th
    $157,480

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary vs area income 136% Median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary is 36% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Detectives and Criminal Investigators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $157,270
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $156,890
    Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $155,110
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $153,340
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $143,250
    Salinas, CA $129,880

    Nearby metros — Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $156,890
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $111,860
    Rochester, NY $107,810
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $106,540
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $106,110
    Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $104,330

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$38,210
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$80,060
    Correctional Officers and Jailers$75,330
    School Bus Monitors$35,060
    Firefighters$72,790
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$100,870

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make per hour in Buffalo?

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Buffalo, NY is $46.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $72.84 or more per hour.

    Is Buffalo above or below average for Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries?

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Buffalo, NY is 2.6% above the national median of $93,580. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Buffalo?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $59,740 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $84,690.