Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Lancaster
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $105,850 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Lancaster earn between $93,130 and $105,320.
- $74K10th
- $93K25th
- $97KMedian
- $105K75th
- $106K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,400 | $7,867 | $45.38 |
| Median | $97,190 | $8,099 | $46.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,130 | $7,761 | $44.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,320 | $8,777 | $50.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Lancaster vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Lancaster earn 7% less than the Pennsylvania average ($101,760) and 5% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | $94,400 | $97,190 | $73,670 | $105,850 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,760 | $97,580 | $63,770 | $154,360 | 3,370 |
| 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 Lancaster
On the average salary of $94,400, a single filer in Lancaster takes home about $72,342 a year, or $6,029 a month and $2,782 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Lancaster a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lancaster area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $94,400 buys what about $96,075 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lancaster ($48,210). A typical home costs $388,207, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Lancaster ranks 7th of 10 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($110,140).
- Philadelphia$110,140
- Allentown$105,870
- Pittsburgh$102,630
- York$102,580
- Erie$98,470
- Reading$94,520
- Lancaster$94,400
- State College$92,510
- Harrisburg$88,190
- Scranton$86,610
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Lancaster: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Lancaster?
$45.39 an hour on average, and $46.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Lancaster?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Lancaster?
About $72,342 a year ($6,029 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,400. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Lancaster than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Lancaster, PA (29540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.31, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.31).
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