Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Athens
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,050 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Athens earn between $47,090 and $59,280.
- $47K10th
- $47K25th
- $59KMedian
- $59K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,830 | $4,902 | $28.28 |
| Median | $58,850 | $4,904 | $28.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,090 | $3,924 | $22.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,280 | $4,940 | $28.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Athens vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Athens earn 25% less than the Georgia average ($78,140) and 41% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $58,830 | $58,850 | $47,090 | $75,050 | 90 |
| Georgia | $78,140 | $65,430 | $46,790 | $149,030 | 5,070 |
| 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 Athens
On the average salary of $58,830, a single filer in Athens takes home about $47,263 a year, or $3,939 a month and $1,818 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Athens a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Athens area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.3), so the average $58,830 buys what about $63,026 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Athens ($41,220). A typical home costs $373,118, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Georgia cities
Athens ranks 11th of 12 Georgia metro areas for this job; Brunswick pays the most ($148,490).
- Brunswick$148,490
- Savannah$86,440
- Atlanta$78,150
- Hinesville$77,400
- Columbus$76,080
- Augusta$74,750
- Macon$73,850
- Warner Robins$72,140
- Albany$71,230
- Athens$58,830
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Georgia
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 Athens: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Athens?
$28.29 an hour on average, and $28.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Athens?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Athens?
About $47,263 a year ($3,939 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,830.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Athens than elsewhere?
The average here is 41% less 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 Athens-Clarke County, GA (12020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.2%.
- 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 1.31, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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