Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,330 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Durham earn between $61,790 and $80,330.
- $61K10th
- $62K25th
- $69KMedian
- $80K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,820 | $5,985 | $34.53 |
| Median | $68,790 | $5,732 | $33.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,790 | $5,149 | $29.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,330 | $6,694 | $38.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Durham earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($76,020) and 28% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $71,820 | $68,790 | $61,210 | $80,330 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $76,020 | $63,280 | $50,260 | $137,550 | 3,360 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $71,820, a single filer in Durham takes home about $56,998 a year, or $4,750 a month and $2,192 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).
Is Durham a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $71,820 buys what about $73,607 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 8th of 14 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Jacksonville pays the most ($95,170).
- Jacksonville$95,170
- Charlotte$87,800
- Raleigh$84,340
- Greensboro$80,680
- Fayetteville$80,170
- Wilmington$78,010
- Asheville$74,700
- Durham$71,820
- Greenville$66,850
- Winston-Salem$65,880
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in North Carolina
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 Durham: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Durham?
$34.53 an hour on average, and $33.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Durham?
About $56,998 a year ($4,750 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,820.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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