Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,750 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Hickory earn between $52,270 and $59,650.
- $48K10th
- $52K25th
- $57KMedian
- $60K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,020 | $4,835 | $27.89 |
| Median | $57,220 | $4,768 | $27.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,270 | $4,356 | $25.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,650 | $4,971 | $28.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Hickory earn 24% less than the North Carolina average ($76,020) and 42% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -39% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $58,020 | $57,220 | $48,340 | $72,750 | 100 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $58,020, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $46,993 a year, or $3,916 a month and $1,807 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $58,020 buys what about $65,570 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 14th 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
- Hickory$58,020
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 Hickory: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Hickory?
$27.89 an hour on average, and $27.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Hickory?
About $46,993 a year ($3,916 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,020.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 42% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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