Salaries for Detectives, Homicide Detectives, Criminologists and Criminal Investigators in California

Based on information published by the California Employment Development Department, there is a median detective salary in California of $97,260, and this is based on an estimated hourly wage of $46.76. The average salary comes in just slightly lower, but only by about 1.4%, at $95,867. Detectives in the top 25% have been reported to average $110,614 per year, which is about $53.18 per hour.

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Southern New Hampshire University

Featured Program: BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology

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Featured Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Security, Master of Science/Administration of Justice and Security

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Here is a look at how much detectives and criminal investigators are earning by location:

Los Angeles County

• Average: $102,989
• Median: $105,248
• Top 25%: $116,854

San Diego County

• Average: $97,723
• Median: $97,843
• Top 25%: $104,166

Santa Clara County (Including San Jose)

• Average: $103,542
• Median: $104,416
• Top 25%: $122,532

San Francisco County

• Average: $117,766
• Median: $127,108
• Top 25%: $140,004

Obviously, the best paying area in California for criminal investigators is San Francisco. In San Francisco, the median salary surpasses the statewide median by 23% and the top 25% salary by about 21%.

The table below provides further salary information regarding criminal investigators in California:

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