Detectives and Criminal Investigators Career, Salary and Skills
Detectives and Criminal Investigators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $93,790 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 114,430. Wage data is published for 340 locations.
Occupation description
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
O*NET code
33-3021.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$93,790
Hourly median
$45.09
Employment
114,430
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$55,390
10th
$69,330
25th
$93,790
Median
$120,520
75th
$160,540
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.50 | 4.50 |
| Speaking | 4.25 | 4.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Writing | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.50 |
Typical tasks
- Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
- Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
- Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
- Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
- Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
- Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
- Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
Technology
- AccessData FTK
- Adobe Photoshop
- Case management software
- Computer aided composite drawing software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Crime mapping software
- DataWorks Plus Digital CrimeScene
- DeChant Consulting Services iWitness
- DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
- Digital Image Management Solutions Crime Scene
- Email software
- Eos Systems PhotoModeler
- ESRI ArcView
- Geographic information system GIS software
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in TXMedian $90,510 · Employment 18,870
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in CAMedian $124,840 · Employment 12,610
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in NYMedian $101,240 · Employment 9,600
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in New York, NYMedian $106,440 · Employment 7,580
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in FLMedian $77,060 · Employment 6,440
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in AZMedian $102,340 · Employment 5,250
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in GAMedian $65,430 · Employment 5,070
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Washington, DCMedian $156,750 · Employment 4,830
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in PAMedian $97,580 · Employment 3,370
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in NCMedian $63,280 · Employment 3,360
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in ILMedian $91,190 · Employment 3,270
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $127,890 · Employment 3,240
Related careers
- Security GuardsNational median $38,020
- LawyersNational median $159,670
- Judicial Law ClerksNational median $64,920
- Compliance OfficersNational median $80,730
- Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersNational median $117,860
- Retail Loss Prevention SpecialistsNational median $42,540
- Customs and Border Protection OfficersNational median $76,210
- Correctional Officers and JailersNational median $58,940
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.