Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $155,940 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Richmond earn between $77,280 and $115,710.
- $67K10th
- $77K25th
- $91KMedian
- $116K75th
- $156K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,220 | $8,268 | $47.70 |
| Median | $91,080 | $7,590 | $43.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,280 | $6,440 | $37.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,710 | $9,642 | $55.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Richmond earn 17% less than the Virginia average ($119,620) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $99,220 | $91,080 | $66,930 | $155,940 | 490 |
| Virginia | $119,620 | $112,760 | $62,730 | $195,190 | 3,180 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $99,220, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $73,740 a year, or $6,145 a month and $2,836 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $99,220 buys what about $101,392 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 3rd of 6 Virginia metro areas for this job; Roanoke pays the most ($111,420).
- Roanoke$111,420
- Virginia Beach$100,380
- Richmond$99,220
- Charlottesville$94,400
- Lynchburg$91,860
- Blacksburg$84,920
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Virginia
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 Richmond: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Richmond?
$47.70 an hour on average, and $43.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Richmond?
About $73,740 a year ($6,145 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,220.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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