Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Phoenix
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $165,340 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Phoenix earn between $74,800 and $121,240.
- $64K10th
- $75K25th
- $99KMedian
- $121K75th
- $165K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,400 | $8,867 | $51.15 |
| Median | $98,860 | $8,238 | $47.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,800 | $6,233 | $35.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,240 | $10,103 | $58.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Phoenix vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Phoenix earn 6% more than the Arizona average ($100,000) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $106,400 | $98,860 | $64,360 | $165,340 | 1,140 |
| Arizona | $100,000 | $102,340 | $60,590 | $142,380 | 5,250 |
| United States | $99,430 | $93,790 | $55,390 | $160,540 | 114,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary after taxes in Phoenix
On the average salary of $106,400, a single filer in Phoenix takes home about $81,416 a year, or $6,785 a month and $3,131 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Phoenix a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $106,400 buys what about $102,985 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Phoenix ($51,380). A typical home costs $448,352, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Arizona cities
Phoenix ranks 1st of 6 Arizona metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Phoenix$106,400
- Sierra Vista$103,130
- Tucson$101,050
- Yuma$93,640
- Flagstaff$84,470
- Prescott Valley$77,660
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Arizona
Highest-paying cities for detectives and criminal investigators
Brunswick, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,490).
- Brunswick, GA$148,490
- Washington, DC$146,910
- San Jose, CA$144,580
- Oxnard, CA$138,040
- San Francisco, CA$135,460
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Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Phoenix: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Phoenix?
$51.15 an hour on average, and $47.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Phoenix?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Phoenix?
About $81,416 a year ($6,785 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,400.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Phoenix than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($99,430).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-3021; area Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (38060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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