Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,400 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Salem earn between $84,890 and $132,400.
- $62K10th
- $85K25th
- $98KMedian
- $132K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,900 | $8,658 | $49.95 |
| Median | $97,750 | $8,146 | $47.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,890 | $7,074 | $40.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $132,400 | $11,033 | $63.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Salem earn 8% less than the Oregon average ($113,430) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $103,900 | $97,750 | $62,430 | $132,400 | 80 |
| Oregon | $113,430 | $107,450 | $81,990 | $158,060 | 520 |
| 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 Salem
On the average salary of $103,900, a single filer in Salem takes home about $74,134 a year, or $6,178 a month and $2,851 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $103,900 buys what about $100,242 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 4th of 4 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($122,910).
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Oregon
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 Salem: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Salem?
$49.95 an hour on average, and $47.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Salem?
About $74,134 a year ($6,178 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,900. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Salem, OR (41420). 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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