Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $177,650 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Seattle earn between $110,880 and $150,030.
- $89K10th
- $111K25th
- $124KMedian
- $150K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,420 | $10,785 | $62.22 |
| Median | $123,820 | $10,318 | $59.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $110,880 | $9,240 | $53.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $150,030 | $12,502 | $72.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Seattle earn 10% more than the Washington average ($118,040) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $129,420 | $123,820 | $88,790 | $177,650 | 740 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $129,420, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $99,725 a year, or $8,310 a month and $3,836 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 Seattle a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $129,420 buys what about $116,455 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 2nd of 7 Washington metro areas for this job; Bellingham pays the most ($130,310).
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
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 Seattle: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Seattle?
$62.22 an hour on average, and $59.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $110,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Seattle?
About $99,725 a year ($8,310 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,420. 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 Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.2%.
- 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 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.