Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Riverside
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $83,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $159,150 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Riverside earn between $109,500 and $136,010.
- $83K10th
- $110K25th
- $127KMedian
- $136K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,470 | $10,372 | $59.84 |
| Median | $127,420 | $10,618 | $61.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,500 | $9,125 | $52.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,010 | $11,334 | $65.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Riverside vs. California and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Riverside earn about the same as the California average ($121,530) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +36% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | $124,470 | $127,420 | $83,230 | $159,150 | 1,510 |
| California | $121,530 | $124,840 | $78,280 | $165,510 | 12,610 |
| 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 Riverside
On the average salary of $124,470, a single filer in Riverside takes home about $88,858 a year, or $7,405 a month and $3,418 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Riverside a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Riverside area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.4), so the average $124,470 buys what about $116,937 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Riverside ($48,400). A typical home costs $585,378, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other California cities
Riverside ranks 8th of 19 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($144,580).
- San Jose$144,580
- Oxnard$138,040
- San Francisco$135,460
- Santa Maria$129,740
- Los Angeles$126,590
- Stockton$126,200
- Santa Rosa$125,820
- Riverside$124,470
- San Diego$121,210
- Vallejo$119,190
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in California
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Riverside: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Riverside?
$59.84 an hour on average, and $61.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $83,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Riverside?
About $88,858 a year ($7,405 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,470. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Riverside than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (40140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.