Money · 1 of 5
What criminal investigators make
Median
$93,790
Bottom tenth
$55,390
Top tenth
$160,540
The national median is $93,790 a year, and the bottom tenth start near $55,390. The survey counts every detective and criminal investigator together, from small town detectives to federal agents. Federal agents sit in the upper half of that spread, because federal pay adds a locality adjustment for your city and a premium for being on call.