Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $187,350 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Houston earn between $65,070 and $151,900.
- $55K10th
- $65K25th
- $86KMedian
- $152K75th
- $187K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,800 | $8,733 | $50.38 |
| Median | $86,390 | $7,199 | $41.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,070 | $5,422 | $31.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $151,900 | $12,658 | $73.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Houston earn 14% more than the Texas average ($92,030) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $104,800 | $86,390 | $54,630 | $187,350 | 1,870 |
| Texas | $92,030 | $90,510 | $52,510 | $132,850 | 18,870 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $104,800, a single filer in Houston takes home about $82,557 a year, or $6,880 a month and $3,175 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $104,800 buys what about $106,257 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 2nd of 24 Texas metro areas for this job; San Angelo pays the most ($105,470).
- San Angelo$105,470
- Houston$104,800
- El Paso$100,100
- Dallas$99,850
- Brownsville$97,130
- Laredo$96,710
- McAllen$94,460
- Corpus Christi$94,230
- Tyler$89,000
- San Antonio$86,640
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 Houston: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Houston?
$50.39 an hour on average, and $41.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Houston?
About $82,557 a year ($6,880 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,800. Texas has no state income tax.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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