Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in El Centro
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,850 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in El Centro earn between $106,750 and $127,420.
- $74K10th
- $107K25th
- $124KMedian
- $127K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,940 | $9,578 | $55.26 |
| Median | $123,970 | $10,331 | $59.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $106,750 | $8,896 | $51.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,420 | $10,618 | $61.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in El Centro vs. California and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in El Centro earn 5% less than the California average ($121,530) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro | $114,940 | $123,970 | $73,610 | $130,850 | 770 |
| California | $121,530 | $124,840 | $78,280 | $165,510 | 12,610 |
| 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 El Centro
On the average salary of $114,940, a single filer in El Centro takes home about $83,093 a year, or $6,924 a month and $3,196 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is El Centro a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the El Centro area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.2), so the average $114,940 buys what about $120,768 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in El Centro ($45,140). A typical home costs $379,330, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other California cities
El Centro ranks 12th of 19 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($144,580).
- San Jose$144,580
- Oxnard$138,040
- San Francisco$135,460
- Santa Maria$129,740
- Los Angeles$126,590
- Stockton$126,200
- Santa Rosa$125,820
- Riverside$124,470
- San Diego$121,210
- El Centro$114,940
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in California
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 El Centro: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in El Centro?
$55.26 an hour on average, and $59.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in El Centro?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in El Centro?
About $83,093 a year ($6,924 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,940. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in El Centro than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more 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 El Centro, CA (20940). 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 16.07, this job is 16.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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