Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Brownsville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,260 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Brownsville earn between $86,570 and $109,300.
- $57K10th
- $87K25th
- $109KMedian
- $109K75th
- $112K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,130 | $8,094 | $46.70 |
| Median | $109,300 | $9,108 | $52.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,570 | $7,214 | $41.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $109,300 | $9,108 | $52.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Brownsville vs. Texas and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Brownsville earn 6% more than the Texas average ($92,030) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | $97,130 | $109,300 | $56,620 | $112,260 | 880 |
| 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 Brownsville
On the average salary of $97,130, a single filer in Brownsville takes home about $77,161 a year, or $6,430 a month and $2,968 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Brownsville a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Brownsville area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.0), so the average $97,130 buys what about $112,975 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Brownsville ($36,490). A typical home costs $207,150, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Texas cities
Brownsville ranks 5th 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
- San Antonio$86,640
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 Brownsville: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Brownsville?
$46.70 an hour on average, and $52.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Brownsville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Brownsville?
About $77,161 a year ($6,430 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,130. Texas has no state income tax.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Brownsville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (15180). 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 7.61, this job is 7.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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