33
Detectives and Criminal Investigators is a notable career in the 33 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 33-3021 |
| title | Detectives and Criminal Investigators |
| onet code | 33-3021.00 |
| description | Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes. |
| job zone | 3 |
| major group | 33 |
| tot emp | 110,790 |
| a mean | 98,770 |
| a median | 93,580 |
| a pct10 | 54,160 |
| a pct25 | 68,390 |
| a pct75 | 120,080 |
| a pct90 | 159,410 |
| h mean | 47 |
| h median | 44 |
The day-to-day work of a detectives and criminal investigators typically centers on check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.86 out of 5 — highly rated for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working detectives and criminal investigators, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (32.5%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 10% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Maryland at $125,630 and lowest in Arkansas at $53,460 — a 2.3× spread. The top five states (Maryland, California, Alaska, Washington, New Jersey) average $119,838. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $125,630 | $127,850 | $69,800 | $186,760 | 960 |
| California | $122,140 | $120,930 | $79,350 | $165,230 | 11,900 |
| Alaska | $121,140 | $127,090 | $74,270 | $180,090 | 130 |
| Washington | $116,450 | $118,100 | $86,200 | $164,240 | 1,680 |
| New Jersey | $113,830 | $116,770 | $70,850 | $170,680 | 3,000 |
| Hawaii | $112,100 | $124,950 | $96,370 | $166,190 | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $111,460 | $118,660 | $74,360 | $180,090 | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $110,220 | $117,280 | $62,320 | $191,650 | 3,170 |
| Oregon | $107,450 | $114,240 | $82,770 | $162,200 | 470 |
| Vermont | $104,330 | $101,860 | $64,980 | $153,570 | 210 |
| New York | $103,340 | $106,280 | $61,450 | $168,770 | 9,410 |
| Arizona | $103,270 | $98,670 | $61,310 | $140,360 | 5,220 |
| Colorado | $102,910 | $106,000 | $67,460 | $157,100 | 2,030 |
| Nebraska | $99,090 | $101,710 | $64,230 | $152,240 | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,740 | $102,050 | $63,510 | $151,720 | 3,390 |
| Montana | $95,640 | $94,470 | $61,360 | $141,290 | 470 |
| Nevada | $95,590 | $101,180 | $61,640 | $153,900 | 580 |
| Connecticut | $95,420 | $99,560 | $77,210 | $116,220 | 890 |
| Wisconsin | $92,910 | $92,950 | $67,630 | $107,240 | 1,480 |
| Michigan | $92,560 | $104,170 | $71,820 | $166,300 | 2,050 |
| West Virginia | $90,690 | $101,920 | $45,300 | $168,040 | 210 |
| New Hampshire | $90,050 | $99,180 | $75,680 | $160,620 | 410 |
| Texas | $89,860 | $91,250 | $50,920 | $137,860 | 18,020 |
| Illinois | $89,740 | $97,900 | $53,600 | $158,720 | 3,100 |
| Rhode Island | $88,780 | $96,810 | $76,670 | $146,020 | 440 |
| Delaware | $88,350 | $105,460 | $60,670 | $175,430 | — |
| New Mexico | $86,840 | $83,500 | $48,040 | $107,240 | 2,000 |
| North Dakota | $84,580 | $86,660 | $55,560 | $123,000 | 420 |
| Minnesota | $82,330 | $88,940 | $60,130 | $115,810 | 1,770 |
| Maine | $80,750 | $90,140 | $59,740 | $122,640 | 540 |
| Wyoming | $80,250 | $91,300 | $62,230 | $146,490 | 170 |
| Missouri | $78,670 | $87,900 | $48,690 | $153,150 | 1,440 |
| Florida | $78,290 | $94,360 | $51,290 | $160,620 | 6,310 |
| Ohio | $77,940 | $89,760 | $57,510 | $151,900 | 2,120 |
| Idaho | $77,460 | $86,860 | $54,570 | $142,190 | 520 |
| Iowa | $77,440 | $86,140 | $56,580 | $143,230 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $77,440 | $88,950 | $49,820 | $150,800 | 700 |
| Oklahoma | $77,440 | $83,850 | $51,030 | $129,250 | 1,280 |
| South Dakota | $77,440 | $90,250 | $59,540 | $142,190 | 230 |
| Indiana | $74,600 | $79,500 | $49,870 | $130,440 | 1,240 |
| Utah | $74,530 | $87,790 | $48,670 | $150,800 | 560 |
| Tennessee | $72,800 | $83,560 | $49,670 | $144,290 | 1,960 |
| Kansas | $68,180 | $74,870 | $46,420 | $101,320 | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $66,020 | $77,900 | $41,970 | $147,850 | 1,290 |
| Georgia | $64,990 | $76,520 | $43,820 | $146,490 | 4,820 |
| South Carolina | $63,060 | $77,110 | $49,740 | $146,490 | 1,330 |
| North Carolina | $62,480 | $75,320 | $49,820 | $134,870 | 3,240 |
| Louisiana | $59,500 | $69,230 | $39,320 | $129,250 | 1,870 |
| Mississippi | $56,310 | $67,560 | $40,710 | $129,250 | 810 |
| Arkansas | $53,460 | $67,640 | $40,360 | $142,190 | 560 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for detectives and criminal investigators. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Air Marshal or Burglary Investigator frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Detectives and Criminal Investigators compares to others in the 33 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Detectives and Criminal Investigators
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.