Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Detroit, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Median annual salary $98,340 +5.1% vs national
Median hourly $47.28
10th percentile $80,140
90th percentile $175,800
Employed locally 1,100
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators
in
Detroit, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $80,140
    25th
    $84,000
    50th (median)
    $98,340
    75th
    $130,000
    90th
    $175,800

    Detroit economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,123 2023 • Census ACS
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary vs area income 131% Median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary is 31% 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
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $113,800
    Ann Arbor, MI $105,930
    McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $104,330
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $98,970
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $98,740
    Missoula, MT $98,470

    Related occupations in Detroit, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $38,190
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $79,240
    Firefighters $61,900
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $65,250
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $99,130
    First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers $48,680

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Detroit, MI is $47.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $83.82 or more per hour.

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

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Detroit, MI is 5.1% 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 Detroit?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $80,140 per year in Detroit, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $84,000.