Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in New Orleans, LA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Median annual salary $69,190 -26.1% vs national
Median hourly $33.26
10th percentile $54,410
90th percentile $159,410
Employed locally 410
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New Orleans, LA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators
in
New Orleans, LA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $54,410
    25th
    $54,460
    50th (median)
    $69,190
    75th
    $129,250
    90th
    $159,410

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 2023 • Census ACS
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary vs area income 111% Median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary is 11% 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
    Maryland $125,630
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $125,300
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $121,530
    Alaska $121,140
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $118,830

    Related occupations in New Orleans, LA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $32,480
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $54,510
    Firefighters $33,870
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $81,650
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $50,970
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $36,450

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Orleans, LA is $33.26, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $78.10 or more per hour.

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

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in New Orleans, LA is 26.1% 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 New Orleans?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $54,410 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $54,460.