As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Criminal Investigator in the United States is $79,232. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $59,441 to $87,457, with most professionals earning between $41,422 and $94,946.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $87,457 | $7,288 | $1,682 | $42 |
| Average | $79,232 | $6,603 | $1,524 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,441 | $4,953 | $1,143 | $29 |
An entry-level Criminal Investigator with less than 1 year of experience earns about $69,578. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $71,038. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $73,960. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $79,799, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $82,589.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Criminal Investigator | $69,578 |
| Intermediate Level Criminal Investigator | $71,038 |
| Senior Level Criminal Investigator | $73,960 |
| Specialist Level Criminal Investigator | $79,799 |
| Expert Level Criminal Investigator | $82,589 |
| Entry Level | 12% |
| Mid Level | 10% |
| Senior Level | 7% |
| Top Level | 1% |
| Experienced | 4% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Criminal Investigator compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $89,200 in 2023 to approximately $89,069 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Criminal Investigator salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Criminal Investigator information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Criminal Investigator job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Criminal Investigator and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $79,232 | 71.9% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $6,061 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $3,882 | 3.5% | ||
| Disability | $1,268 | 1.2% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 5.8% | ||
| Pension | $3,328 | 3.0% | ||
| Time Off | $10,056 | 9.1% | ||
| Total Compensation | $110,198 | 100% | ||
The average annual salary of Criminal Investigator is $79,232. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Criminal Investigator is $38; the average weekly pay of Criminal Investigator is $1,524; the average monthly pay of Criminal Investigator is $6,603.
A Criminal Investigator's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Criminal Investigator earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Criminal Investigator is $99,436.
The highest pay for Criminal Investigator is $94,946.
The lowest pay for Criminal Investigator is $41,422.
Criminal Investigator conducts investigations of criminal cases. Analyzes collected data or evidence and prepares documentation for legal action. Being a Criminal Investigator conducts surveillance and interviews witnesses. Interfaces with various law enforcement agencies. Additionally, Criminal Investigator often requires prior experience working in or closely with law enforecement. May require a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Criminal Investigator's years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Forensics: Forensics is a scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime. Use of analytical and scientific techniques to examine evidence from crimes and prepare legal statements that summarize the results for court cases.
Health Care: Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
