Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in St. Cloud
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,260 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in St. Cloud earn between $56,760 and $75,990.
- $54K10th
- $57K25th
- $68KMedian
- $76K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,080 | $5,757 | $33.21 |
| Median | $68,490 | $5,708 | $32.93 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,760 | $4,730 | $27.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,990 | $6,332 | $36.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in St. Cloud vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in St. Cloud earn 21% less than the Minnesota average ($87,860) and 31% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud | $69,080 | $68,490 | $53,580 | $94,260 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $87,860 | $80,000 | $59,710 | $115,210 | 1,970 |
| 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 St. Cloud
On the average salary of $69,080, a single filer in St. Cloud takes home about $54,254 a year, or $4,521 a month and $2,087 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is St. Cloud a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the St. Cloud area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.6), so the average $69,080 buys what about $78,830 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in St. Cloud ($50,840). A typical home costs $318,864, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Minnesota cities
St. Cloud ranks 4th of 4 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($93,020).
- Minneapolis$93,020
- Duluth$86,040
- Rochester$78,070
- St. Cloud$69,080
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Minnesota
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 St. Cloud: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in St. Cloud?
$33.21 an hour on average, and $32.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in St. Cloud?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in St. Cloud?
About $54,254 a year ($4,521 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,080. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in St. Cloud than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% 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 St. Cloud, MN (41060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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