Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $171,350 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Denver earn between $101,830 and $119,450.
- $79K10th
- $102K25th
- $113KMedian
- $119K75th
- $171K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $115,890 | $9,658 | $55.72 |
| Median | $113,340 | $9,445 | $54.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,830 | $8,486 | $48.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,450 | $9,954 | $57.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Denver earn 6% more than the Colorado average ($109,010) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $115,890 | $113,340 | $78,870 | $171,350 | 1,230 |
| Colorado | $109,010 | $105,480 | $73,010 | $161,550 | 1,930 |
| 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 Denver
On the average salary of $115,890, a single filer in Denver takes home about $85,968 a year, or $7,164 a month and $3,306 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $115,890 buys what about $109,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Colorado cities
Denver ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Denver$115,890
- Fort Collins$106,070
- Grand Junction$105,730
- Pueblo$99,580
- Boulder$96,860
- Greeley$96,050
- Colorado Springs$96,030
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Colorado
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 Denver: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Denver?
$55.72 an hour on average, and $54.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Denver?
About $85,968 a year ($7,164 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $115,890. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.