Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in New York, NY-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Median annual salary $106,540 +13.8% vs national
Median hourly $51.22
10th percentile $62,290
90th percentile $177,150
Employed locally 7,460
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New York, NY-NJ stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators
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New York, NY-NJ
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $62,290
    25th
    $77,350
    50th (median)
    $106,540
    75th
    $151,840
    90th
    $177,150

    New York economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $97,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary vs area income 109% Median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary is 9% 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
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $106,110
    Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $104,330
    Utica-Rome, NY $96,480

    Related occupations in New York, NY-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $42,030
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $105,790
    Firefighters $105,250
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $92,190
    School Bus Monitors $37,650
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $137,520

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New York, NY-NJ is $51.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $84.58 or more per hour.

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

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in New York, NY-NJ is 13.8% 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 New York?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $62,290 per year in New York, NY-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $77,350.