Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $184,000 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Boston earn between $94,290 and $149,180.
- $77K10th
- $94K25th
- $110KMedian
- $149K75th
- $184K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $120,230 | $10,019 | $57.80 |
| Median | $110,150 | $9,179 | $52.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $94,290 | $7,858 | $45.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $149,180 | $12,432 | $71.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($118,130) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $120,230 | $110,150 | $77,110 | $184,000 | 1,110 |
| Massachusetts | $118,130 | $110,150 | $76,150 | $179,030 | 1,300 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $120,230, a single filer in Boston takes home about $87,720 a year, or $7,310 a month and $3,374 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $93,412 | $7,784 |
| Working in MA | $87,720 | $7,310 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $120,230 buys what about $111,051 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 4 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($122,300).
- Springfield$122,300
- Boston$120,230
- Barnstable$106,290
- Worcester$104,540
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Massachusetts
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 Boston: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Boston?
$57.80 an hour on average, and $52.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $94,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Boston?
About $87,720 a year ($7,310 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $120,230. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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