Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,330 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Milwaukee earn between $92,910 and $98,830.
- $72K10th
- $93K25th
- $93KMedian
- $99K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,890 | $8,241 | $47.54 |
| Median | $92,910 | $7,742 | $44.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $92,910 | $7,742 | $44.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,830 | $8,236 | $47.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Milwaukee earn 9% more than the Wisconsin average ($90,620) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $98,890 | $92,910 | $72,220 | $142,330 | 550 |
| 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 Milwaukee
On the average salary of $98,890, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $74,037 a year, or $6,170 a month and $2,848 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 Milwaukee a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $98,890 buys what about $102,015 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 1st of 9 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Milwaukee: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Milwaukee?
$47.54 an hour on average, and $44.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $92,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $74,037 a year ($6,170 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,890.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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