Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,140 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Albuquerque earn between $47,480 and $79,790.
- $47K10th
- $47K25th
- $47KMedian
- $80K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,140 | $5,845 | $33.72 |
| Median | $47,480 | $3,957 | $22.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,480 | $3,957 | $22.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,790 | $6,649 | $38.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Albuquerque earn 17% less than the New Mexico average ($84,880) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -49% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $70,140 | $47,480 | $47,480 | $133,140 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $84,880 | $86,840 | $47,480 | $111,970 | 2,020 |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $70,140, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $56,043 a year, or $4,670 a month and $2,155 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 Albuquerque a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $70,140 buys what about $73,410 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other New Mexico cities
Albuquerque ranks 3rd of 4 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Las Cruces pays the most ($97,260).
- Las Cruces$97,260
- Santa Fe$83,150
- Albuquerque$70,140
- Farmington$66,030
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in New Mexico
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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Albuquerque?
$33.72 an hour on average, and $22.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $56,043 a year ($4,670 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,140.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). 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 2.27, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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