Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Virginia Beach
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $160,410 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Virginia Beach earn between $71,820 and $133,680.
- $55K10th
- $72K25th
- $94KMedian
- $134K75th
- $160K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,380 | $8,365 | $48.26 |
| Median | $93,790 | $7,816 | $45.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,820 | $5,985 | $34.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,680 | $11,140 | $64.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Virginia Beach vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Virginia Beach earn 16% less than the Virginia average ($119,620) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $100,380 | $93,790 | $54,690 | $160,410 | 460 |
| 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 Virginia Beach
On the average salary of $100,380, a single filer in Virginia Beach takes home about $74,490 a year, or $6,207 a month and $2,865 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $75,951 | $6,329 |
| Working in VA | $74,490 | $6,207 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Virginia Beach a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Virginia Beach area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $100,380 buys what about $102,490 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Virginia Beach ($49,430). A typical home costs $373,678, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Virginia cities
Virginia Beach ranks 2nd 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Virginia Beach: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Virginia Beach?
$48.26 an hour on average, and $45.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Virginia Beach?
About $74,490 a year ($6,207 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,380.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (47260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.