Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $171,790 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Chicago earn between $74,260 and $123,820.
- $57K10th
- $74K25th
- $102KMedian
- $124K75th
- $172K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,220 | $8,602 | $49.62 |
| Median | $102,260 | $8,522 | $49.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,260 | $6,188 | $35.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,820 | $10,318 | $59.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($97,480) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $103,220 | $102,260 | $57,300 | $171,790 | 2,290 |
| Illinois | $97,480 | $91,190 | $53,960 | $157,060 | 3,270 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $103,220, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $76,477 a year, or $6,373 a month and $2,941 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $78,379 | $6,532 |
| Working in IL | $76,477 | $6,373 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $103,220 buys what about $99,638 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 5 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$103,220
- Rockford$102,510
- Springfield$96,080
- Champaign$79,640
- Peoria$73,880
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Illinois
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 Chicago: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Chicago?
$49.63 an hour on average, and $49.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $76,477 a year ($6,373 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,220.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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