Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $189,970 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Baltimore earn between $105,750 and $165,800.
- $77K10th
- $106K25th
- $128KMedian
- $166K75th
- $190K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $134,010 | $11,168 | $64.43 |
| Median | $128,440 | $10,703 | $61.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,750 | $8,812 | $50.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $165,800 | $13,817 | $79.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Baltimore earn 3% more than the Maryland average ($130,040) and 35% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $134,010 | $128,440 | $77,160 | $189,970 | 490 |
| Maryland | $130,040 | $126,730 | $71,200 | $188,700 | 1,010 |
| 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 Baltimore
On the average salary of $134,010, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $96,617 a year, or $8,051 a month and $3,716 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). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $134,010 buys what about $128,255 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Maryland cities
Baltimore ranks 1st of 2 Maryland metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Baltimore$134,010
- Hagerstown$117,930
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Maryland
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 Baltimore: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Baltimore?
$64.43 an hour on average, and $61.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $96,617 a year ($8,051 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $134,010. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Baltimore than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). 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). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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