Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Trenton, NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Trenton-Princeton, NJ

Median annual salary $107,290 +14.7% vs national
Median hourly $51.58
10th percentile $75,440
90th percentile $172,100
Employed locally 420
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators
in
Trenton, NJ
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $75,440
    25th
    $90,540
    50th (median)
    $107,290
    75th
    $127,690
    90th
    $172,100

    Trenton economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,333 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $106,540
    Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $100,470
    Vineland, NJ $100,470
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $98,740
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $95,920

    Related occupations in Trenton, NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$35,240
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,480
    Firefighters$88,970
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$148,270
    School Bus Monitors$31,720
    Protective Service Workers, All Other$60,900

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Trenton, NJ is $51.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $84.58 or more per hour.

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

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Trenton, NJ is 14.7% 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 Trenton?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $75,440 per year in Trenton, NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $90,540.