Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Watertown, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Median annual salary $104,330 +11.5% vs national
Median hourly $50.16
10th percentile $89,860
90th percentile $117,890
Employed locally 70
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators
in
Watertown, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $89,860
    25th
    $92,750
    50th (median)
    $104,330
    75th
    $107,240
    90th
    $117,890

    Watertown economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,978 2023 • Census ACS
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary vs area income 161% Median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary is 61% 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $106,540
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $106,110
    Utica-Rome, NY $96,480

    Related occupations in Watertown, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $84,250
    Security Guards $45,570
    Firefighters $71,600
    School Bus Monitors $33,330
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $104,530
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $33,070

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Watertown, NY is $50.16, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $55.39 or more per hour.

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

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Watertown, NY is 11.5% 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 Watertown?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $89,860 per year in Watertown, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $92,750.