Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • St. Louis, MO-IL

Median annual salary $86,200 -7.9% vs national
Median hourly $41.44
10th percentile $55,580
90th percentile $158,830
Employed locally 600
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how St. Louis, MO-IL stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators
in
St. Louis, MO-IL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $55,580
    25th
    $70,590
    50th (median)
    $86,200
    75th
    $132,350
    90th
    $158,830

    St. Louis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $78,225 2023 • Census ACS
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary vs area income 110% Median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary is 10% 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
    Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $155,110
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $125,630
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $125,300
    Mobile, AL $107,240
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $105,940
    East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area $104,330

    Related occupations in St. Louis, MO-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $37,910
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $72,020
    Firefighters $59,880
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $30,590
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $54,190
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $101,820

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make per hour in St. Louis?

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in St. Louis, MO-IL is $41.44, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $75.76 or more per hour.

    Is St. Louis above or below average for Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries?

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in St. Louis, MO-IL is 7.9% 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 St. Louis?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $55,580 per year in St. Louis, MO-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $70,590.