Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $109,300 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Madison earn between $84,360 and $102,780.
- $77K10th
- $84K25th
- $103KMedian
- $103K75th
- $109K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,450 | $8,121 | $46.85 |
| Median | $102,780 | $8,565 | $49.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,360 | $7,030 | $40.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,780 | $8,565 | $49.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Madison earn 8% more than the Wisconsin average ($90,620) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $97,450 | $102,780 | $77,230 | $109,300 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $90,620 | $91,040 | $70,060 | $103,130 | 1,640 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $97,450, a single filer in Madison takes home about $73,110 a year, or $6,092 a month and $2,812 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $97,450 buys what about $100,168 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 2nd of 9 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Milwaukee pays the most ($98,890).
- Milwaukee$98,890
- Madison$97,450
- Kenosha$89,800
- Wausau$88,260
- Green Bay$87,710
- Appleton$87,590
- Racine$84,370
- Eau Claire$83,460
- Janesville$81,680
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Wisconsin
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 Madison: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Madison?
$46.85 an hour on average, and $49.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Madison?
About $73,110 a year ($6,092 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,450.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Madison 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 Madison, WI (31540). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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