Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Roanoke
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,060 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Roanoke earn between $86,340 and $136,120.
- $64K10th
- $86K25th
- $114KMedian
- $136K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $111,420 | $9,285 | $53.57 |
| Median | $114,050 | $9,504 | $54.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,340 | $7,195 | $41.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,120 | $11,343 | $65.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Roanoke vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Roanoke earn 7% less than the Virginia average ($119,620) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $111,420 | $114,050 | $63,890 | $158,060 | 130 |
| 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 Roanoke
On the average salary of $111,420, a single filer in Roanoke takes home about $81,621 a year, or $6,802 a month and $3,139 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Roanoke a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Roanoke area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $111,420 buys what about $119,016 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Roanoke ($47,140). A typical home costs $301,139, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Virginia cities
Roanoke ranks 1st of 6 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Roanoke: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Roanoke?
$53.57 an hour on average, and $54.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Roanoke?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Roanoke?
About $81,621 a year ($6,802 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $111,420.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Roanoke than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Roanoke, VA (40220). 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 1.12, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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