Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Charlottesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,120 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Charlottesville earn between $69,420 and $112,420.
- $61K10th
- $69K25th
- $93KMedian
- $112K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,400 | $7,867 | $45.38 |
| Median | $93,160 | $7,763 | $44.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,420 | $5,785 | $33.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,420 | $9,368 | $54.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Charlottesville vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Charlottesville earn 21% less than the Virginia average ($119,620) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $94,400 | $93,160 | $60,740 | $136,120 | 50 |
| Virginia | $119,620 | $112,760 | $62,730 | $195,190 | 3,180 |
| 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 Charlottesville
On the average salary of $94,400, a single filer in Charlottesville takes home about $70,626 a year, or $5,886 a month and $2,716 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Charlottesville a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlottesville area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.1), so the average $94,400 buys what about $95,213 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlottesville ($55,180). A typical home costs $473,058, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Virginia cities
Charlottesville ranks 4th of 6 Virginia metro areas for this job; Roanoke pays the most ($111,420).
- Roanoke$111,420
- Virginia Beach$100,380
- Richmond$99,220
- Charlottesville$94,400
- Lynchburg$91,860
- Blacksburg$84,920
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Virginia
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 Charlottesville: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Charlottesville?
$45.39 an hour on average, and $44.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Charlottesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Charlottesville?
About $70,626 a year ($5,886 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,400.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Charlottesville than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Charlottesville, VA (16820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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