Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in McAllen
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,210 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in McAllen earn between $69,760 and $109,300.
- $50K10th
- $70K25th
- $103KMedian
- $109K75th
- $115K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,460 | $7,872 | $45.41 |
| Median | $103,380 | $8,615 | $49.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,760 | $5,813 | $33.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $109,300 | $9,108 | $52.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in McAllen vs. Texas and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in McAllen earn about the same as the Texas average ($92,030) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen | $94,460 | $103,380 | $49,730 | $115,210 | 1,600 |
| 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 McAllen
On the average salary of $94,460, a single filer in McAllen takes home about $75,283 a year, or $6,274 a month and $2,895 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is McAllen a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the McAllen area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $94,460 buys what about $109,971 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in McAllen ($35,830). A typical home costs $193,978, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Texas cities
McAllen ranks 7th 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 McAllen: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in McAllen?
$45.41 an hour on average, and $49.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in McAllen?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in McAllen?
About $75,283 a year ($6,274 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,460. Texas has no state income tax.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in McAllen 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (32580). 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 7.34, this job is 7.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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