Detectives and Criminal Investigators

SOC 33-3021

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

Five-year wage trends

Median wage levels across states

Focus level

Level III median wage up 13.6% since 2020-21.

2026 weighted lottery impact

Thresholds for Level III & IV

Level III threshold: $88,816

Level IV threshold: $103,418

Most common level in filings: Level II

Latest Level III median

2025-26

$88,816

Level I$61,318

Level II$74,194

Level III$88,816

Level IV$103,418

Top metros by Level III wages

Latest year median for this occupation

Rank	Metro Area	Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV
1	Brunswick-St. Simons, GA, GA	$109,637	$127,733	$145,808	$163,904
2	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, DC	$95,784	$119,787	$143,811	$167,814
3	Lexington Park, MD, MD	$93,662	$117,874	$142,085	$166,296
4	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, CA	$102,627	$122,200	$141,773	$161,346
5	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA, CA	$86,507	$112,299	$138,091	$163,883
6	San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, CA	$97,635	$116,355	$135,054	$153,774
7	Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV, MD	$70,054	$101,566	$133,058	$164,570
8	Anchorage, AK, AK	$78,478	$104,291	$130,104	$155,917
9	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, MD	$81,328	$105,206	$129,106	$152,984
10	Urban Honolulu, HI, HI	$102,482	$115,606	$128,731	$141,856

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