Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Austin
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $114,790 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Austin earn between $58,790 and $99,220.
- $49K10th
- $59K25th
- $79KMedian
- $99K75th
- $115K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,950 | $6,829 | $39.40 |
| Median | $78,970 | $6,581 | $37.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,790 | $4,899 | $28.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,220 | $8,268 | $47.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Austin vs. Texas and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Austin earn 11% less than the Texas average ($92,030) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $81,950 | $78,970 | $48,840 | $114,790 | 1,710 |
| Texas | $92,030 | $90,510 | $52,510 | $132,850 | 18,870 |
| 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 Austin
On the average salary of $81,950, a single filer in Austin takes home about $66,482 a year, or $5,540 a month and $2,557 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Austin a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Austin area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.1), so the average $81,950 buys what about $83,566 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Austin ($56,950). A typical home costs $428,524, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Texas cities
Austin ranks 15th of 24 Texas metro areas for this job; San Angelo pays the most ($105,470).
- San Angelo$105,470
- Houston$104,800
- El Paso$100,100
- Dallas$99,850
- Brownsville$97,130
- Laredo$96,710
- McAllen$94,460
- Corpus Christi$94,230
- Tyler$89,000
- Austin$81,950
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 Austin: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Austin?
$39.40 an hour on average, and $37.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Austin?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Austin?
About $66,482 a year ($5,540 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,950. Texas has no state income tax.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Austin than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less 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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (12420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.80, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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