Detectives and Criminal Investigators · Arizona

Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Arizona

Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Arizona earn a median annual wage of $102,340 —9.1% above the national median of $93,790. That ranks AZ #14 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$102,340
Median hourly
$49.20
Entry level (P10)
$60,590
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$142,380
90th percentile
Employment
5,250
1.6 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+9.1%
U.S. $93,790

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$60,590
$77,730
$102,340
$111,360
$60,590$102,340$142,380
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $102,340.

Employment is 2.20× as concentrated as the national average, making Arizona a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for detectives and criminal investigators

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Arizona is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$160,760$77.292,9805.78
2Maryland$126,730$60.931,0100.50
3California$124,840$60.0212,6100.94
4Delaware$122,050$58.681400.40
5New Jersey$116,300$55.923,0800.98
6Washington$115,790$55.671,8500.71
7Alaska$114,940$55.261400.58
8Hawaii$113,940$54.784400.95
9Virginia$112,760$54.213,1801.05
10Massachusetts$110,150$52.961,3000.49

Related occupations in Arizona

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Arizona.

Frequently asked questions

How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Arizona?

The median annual wage for detectives and criminal investigators in Arizona is $102,340, or $49.20 per hour. That is 9.1% above the national median of $93,790.

What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Arizona?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $60,590 per year ($29.13/hour). The 25th percentile is $77,730.

How many people work as detectives and criminal investigators in Arizona?

About 5,250 people work in this occupation in Arizona, or 1.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Arizona a good state for detectives and criminal investigators?

Arizona ranks #14 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 2.20x as concentrated as the national average, making Arizona a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays detectives and criminal investigators the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $160,760 per year, followed by Maryland ($126,730) and California ($124,840).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes