Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Waco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $153,670 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Waco earn between $65,590 and $83,360.
- $55K10th
- $66K25th
- $71KMedian
- $83K75th
- $154K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,550 | $6,879 | $39.69 |
| Median | $70,990 | $5,916 | $34.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,590 | $5,466 | $31.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,360 | $6,947 | $40.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Waco vs. Texas and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Waco earn 10% less than the Texas average ($92,030) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | $82,550 | $70,990 | $54,760 | $153,670 | 120 |
| 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 Waco
On the average salary of $82,550, a single filer in Waco takes home about $66,904 a year, or $5,575 a month and $2,573 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Waco a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waco area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $82,550 buys what about $89,195 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Waco ($46,020). A typical home costs $256,772, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Texas cities
Waco ranks 14th 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
- Waco$82,550
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 Waco: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Waco?
$39.69 an hour on average, and $34.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Waco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Waco?
About $66,904 a year ($5,575 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,550. Texas has no state income tax.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Waco than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Waco, TX (47380). 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 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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