Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Fresno
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,870 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Fresno earn between $98,550 and $132,390.
- $76K10th
- $99K25th
- $110KMedian
- $132K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,580 | $9,548 | $55.09 |
| Median | $109,720 | $9,143 | $52.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,550 | $8,212 | $47.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $132,390 | $11,032 | $63.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Fresno vs. California and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Fresno earn 6% less than the California average ($121,530) and 15% more than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $114,580 | $109,720 | $76,180 | $158,870 | 420 |
| 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 Fresno
On the average salary of $114,580, a single filer in Fresno takes home about $82,873 a year, or $6,906 a month and $3,187 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 Fresno a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fresno area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.2), so the average $114,580 buys what about $112,160 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Fresno ($46,910). A typical home costs $409,749, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other California cities
Fresno ranks 13th 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
- Fresno$114,580
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 Fresno: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Fresno?
$55.09 an hour on average, and $52.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Fresno?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Fresno?
About $82,873 a year ($6,906 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,580. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Fresno than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Fresno, CA (23420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.3%.
- 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 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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