Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $58,640 -37.3% vs national
Median hourly $28.19
10th percentile $51,210
90th percentile $78,020
Employed locally 110
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,210
    25th
    $54,710
    50th (median)
    $58,640
    75th
    $65,740
    90th
    $78,020

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary vs area income 97% Median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary is 3% below 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $125,300
    Anchorage, AK $124,400
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $121,530
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $107,290
    Lincoln, NE $99,090
    Lynchburg, VA $97,090

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$52,270
    Correctional Officers and Jailers$48,040
    Firefighters$34,790
    Security Guards$32,780
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$75,240
    First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$55,970

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Hickory, NC is $28.19, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $34.98 or more per hour.

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

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Hickory, NC is 37.3% below 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $51,210 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $54,710.