Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $147,640 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Tucson earn between $81,060 and $111,360.
- $60K10th
- $81K25th
- $105KMedian
- $111K75th
- $148K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,050 | $8,421 | $48.58 |
| Median | $105,350 | $8,779 | $50.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,060 | $6,755 | $38.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,360 | $9,280 | $53.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Tucson earn about the same as the Arizona average ($100,000) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $101,050 | $105,350 | $60,500 | $147,640 | 1,620 |
| Arizona | $100,000 | $102,340 | $60,590 | $142,380 | 5,250 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $101,050, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $77,786 a year, or $6,482 a month and $2,992 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $101,050 buys what about $104,287 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 3rd of 6 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($106,400).
- Phoenix$106,400
- Sierra Vista$103,130
- Tucson$101,050
- Yuma$93,640
- Flagstaff$84,470
- Prescott Valley$77,660
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Arizona
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 Tucson: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Tucson?
$48.58 an hour on average, and $50.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Tucson?
About $77,786 a year ($6,482 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,050.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Tucson 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.1%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 5.67, this job is 5.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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