Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Wausau, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Wausau, WI

Median annual salary $88,610 -5.3% vs national
Median hourly $42.60
10th percentile $81,440
90th percentile $91,740
Employed locally 30
National median $93,580

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Wausau, WI stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
in
Wausau, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $81,440
    25th
    $82,280
    50th (median)
    $88,610
    75th
    $88,910
    90th
    $91,740

    Wausau economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,185 2023 • Census ACS
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary vs area income 116% Median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary is 16% 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
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $103,940
    Madison, WI $101,690
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $98,970
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $98,740
    Wisconsin $92,910

    Related occupations in Wausau, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Firefighters$43,310
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$79,070
    Security Guards$36,610
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$27,690
    First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$85,890
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$80,930

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Wausau, WI is $42.60, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.69 or more per hour.

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

    The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Wausau, WI is 5.3% 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 Wausau?

    Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $81,440 per year in Wausau, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $82,280.