How Much Does a Criminal Defense Investigator Make in Pennsylvania?

Updated March 01, 2025
As of March 01, 2025, the average annual pay of Criminal Defense Investigator in Pennsylvania is $77,599. While Salary.com is seeing that Criminal Defense Investigator salary in PA can go up to $93,991 or down to $38,659, but most earn between $56,374 and $86,179. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Related Job Titles to Criminal Defense Investigator
Criminal Investigator
$74,082
Pennsylvania
Per Year
Criminal Defense Paralegal
$91,645
Pennsylvania
Per Year
Criminal Defense Lawyer
$105,646
Pennsylvania
Per Year
Criminal Defense Attorney
$101,117
Pennsylvania
Per Year
download asset banner
Facing Salary Structure Challenges? Let Our Expert Guide You
The job market is increasingly challenging. Our whitepaper, Navigating the Challenges of Creating Salary Structures, offers guidance on creating salary structures. Provide your phone number and work email to download the full version.
We will handle your contact details in line with our Privacy Policy. If you prefer not to receive marketing emails from Salary.com, you can opt-out out of marketing communications at any time by clicking unsubscribe.

Similar Job Salaries to Criminal Defense Investigator by Company

FIND A SPECIFIC EMPLOYER
Loading results...
Company average base salary in (usd) range
United States Secret Service
Special Agent/Criminal Investigator
$74,069/yr
$65,369
$82,769
RANGE: $65,369 - $82,769
Brooklyn Defender Services
INVESTIGATOR, CRIMINAL DEFENSE PRACTICE
$186,111/yr
$167,749
$204,474
RANGE: $167,749 - $204,474
Law Office of John J. Waldron
Legal Assistant – Criminal Defense Attorney
$80,529/yr
$71,882
$89,176
RANGE: $71,882 - $89,176
U.S. Secret Service
Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) - $40,000 Recruitment Incentive
$51,626/yr
$45,984
$57,269
RANGE: $45,984 - $57,269
United States Secret Service
Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) - $40,000 Recruitment Incentive
$69,089/yr
$60,974
$77,204
RANGE: $60,974 - $77,204
$106,296/yr
$95,002
$117,589
RANGE: $95,002 - $117,589
Top Secret Clearance Jobs
Criminal Investigator
$51,309/yr
$45,702
$56,916
RANGE: $45,702 - $56,916
St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office
Criminal Investigator
$73,376/yr
$65,401
$81,350
RANGE: $65,401 - $81,350
United States Secret Service
Criminal investigator
$51,785/yr
$46,126
$57,445
RANGE: $46,126 - $57,445

Open Criminal Defense Investigator Jobs in Pennsylvania

Create Alert

Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Criminal Defense Investigator Jobs in Pennsylvania

It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States. There are some cities where a Criminal Defense Investigator can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living. Below is the top cities list for Criminal Defense Investigator job salaries in Pennsylvania. Some cities can pay higher salaries for Criminal Defense Investigator jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Criminal Defense Investigator positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Criminal Defense Investigator salary is higher than other cities in Pennsylvania. Doylestown takes first place in this list, followed by Philadelphia, West Chester. The Criminal Defense Investigator salary is $84,131 in Doylestown, which is higher than the national average. There are 7 cities' Criminal Defense Investigator salary higher than national average in Pennsylvania.
The average salary for a Criminal Defense Investigator in Pennsylvania is $77,599, but we found that the city with the highest salary for Criminal Defense Investigator jobs is Doylestown, PA, and it is higher than Philadelphia. Criminal Defense Investigator jobs in Doylestown can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in Pennsylvania.
CITY ANNUAL SALARY MONTHLY PAY WEEKLY PAY HOURLY WAGE
Doylestown $84,131 $7,011 $1,618 $40
Philadelphia $82,109 $6,842 $1,579 $39
West Chester $80,943 $6,745 $1,557 $39
Stroudsburg $78,610 $6,551 $1,512 $38
Allentown $78,377 $6,531 $1,507 $38
Bethlehem $78,377 $6,531 $1,507 $38
Easton $78,221 $6,518 $1,504 $38
Reading $77,366 $6,447 $1,488 $37
Pittsburgh $76,589 $6,382 $1,473 $37
Lancaster $76,200 $6,350 $1,465 $37

What Does a Criminal Defense Investigator Do?

Defense attorneys can have their own in-house criminal defense investigator to find facts and evidence that will proclaim their clients’ innocence.
Updated December 19, 2021
A criminal defense investigator must not only have specialized skills in the field but must also possess the ability to draft professional and accurate reports.
Updated December 16, 2021
The qualifications that you need to become a criminal defense investigator include a degree or law enforcement experience, a license to act as a private investigator in your state, and the investigative skills to find the necessary evidence to use in court.
Updated December 15, 2021
In short, a Criminal Defense Investigator investigates crimes on behalf of defense attorneys and assists them in putting together a strong defense for a client.
Updated November 23, 2021
Although the criminal defense investigator normally doesn’t have the opportunity to visit the scene until well after the crime was committed, it is still important to understand the physical layout and dimensions of the scene.
Updated November 20, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions About a Criminal Defense Investigator Salaries

What is the average of a Criminal Defense Investigator in Pennsylvania?

The Criminal Defense Investigator salary range is from $56,374 to $86,179, and the average Criminal Defense Investigator salary is $77,599/year in Pennsylvania. The Criminal Defense Investigator's salary will change in different locations.

Which location pays the highest Criminal Defense Investigator salary in the United States?

The Criminal Defense Investigator salary in San Jose, CA is $97,582 which is the highest in the US.

What kinds of reasons will influence the Criminal Defense Investigator's salary?

Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary. Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Criminal Defense Investigator.

What is the growth rate of the Criminal Defense Investigator's salary?

If you are thinking of becoming a Criminal Defense Investigator or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Criminal Defense Investigator.