Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Bellingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $106,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $177,650 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Bellingham earn between $119,520 and $126,170.
- $106K10th
- $120K25th
- $123KMedian
- $126K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $130,310 | $10,859 | $62.65 |
| Median | $122,840 | $10,237 | $59.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $119,520 | $9,960 | $57.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,170 | $10,514 | $60.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Bellingham vs. Washington and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Bellingham earn 10% more than the Washington average ($118,040) and 31% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +31% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $130,310 | $122,840 | $106,250 | $177,650 | 260 |
| Washington | $118,040 | $115,790 | $84,500 | $162,860 | 1,850 |
| 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 Bellingham
On the average salary of $130,310, a single filer in Bellingham takes home about $100,333 a year, or $8,361 a month and $3,859 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Bellingham a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bellingham area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $130,310 buys what about $126,106 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Bellingham ($57,820). A typical home costs $620,829, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Washington cities
Bellingham ranks 1st of 7 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Washington
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 Bellingham: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Bellingham?
$62.65 an hour on average, and $59.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Bellingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $106,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $119,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Bellingham?
About $100,333 a year ($8,361 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $130,310. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Bellingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% 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 Bellingham, WA (13380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.1%.
- 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. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.88, this job is 3.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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