Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $175,660 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Salinas earn between $90,270 and $135,230.
- $78K10th
- $90K25th
- $106KMedian
- $135K75th
- $176K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $115,050 | $9,588 | $55.31 |
| Median | $105,990 | $8,832 | $50.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $90,270 | $7,522 | $43.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $135,230 | $11,269 | $65.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Salinas 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 +13% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $115,050 | $105,990 | $77,710 | $175,660 | 50 |
| 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 Salinas
On the average salary of $115,050, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $83,160 a year, or $6,930 a month and $3,198 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 Salinas a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $115,050 buys what about $105,510 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 11th 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
- Salinas$115,050
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 Salinas: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Salinas?
$55.31 an hour on average, and $50.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $90,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Salinas?
About $83,160 a year ($6,930 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $115,050. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Salinas 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 Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 0.36, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.36).
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