Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in El Centro, CA
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the El Centro, CA metro area earn a median of $123,970 a year ($59.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,850 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $93,790. Pay here is 1% lower than the California statewide median of $124,840. There are 12 detectives and criminal investigators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 16.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $114,940, close to the median.
Pay range for detectives and criminal investigators in El Centro, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,610 | $35.39 |
| 25th percentile | $106,750 | $51.32 |
| Median | $123,970 | $59.60 |
| 75th percentile | $127,420 | $61.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Average (mean) | $114,940 | $55.26 |
Half of detectives and criminal investigators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,330.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,165.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,768.08 |
| Weekly | $2,384.04 |
| Hourly | $59.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $158,640 | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $153,570 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $133,100 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $130,810 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $127,890 | 3,240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $127,420 | 1,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $126,700 | 690 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $124,840 | 2,990 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $113,360 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $109,720 | 420 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $109,500 | 1,570 |
| Vallejo, CA | $108,430 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $105,990 | 50 |
| Modesto, CA | $104,000 | 90 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $102,710 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $96,760 | 230 |
| Redding, CA | $94,280 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $85,740 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for detectives and criminal investigators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $160,760 |
| Maryland | $126,730 |
| California | $124,840 |
| Delaware | $122,050 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 |
| Washington | $115,790 |
| Alaska | $114,940 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 |
| Virginia | $112,760 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 |
See Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Centro, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,230 | $36.65 |
| Security Guard | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| Firefighter | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $66,820 | $32.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $149,290 | $71.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $47,870 | $23.01 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a detectives and criminal investigators make in El Centro, CA?
The median salary for detectives and criminal investigators in the El Centro, CA metro area is $123,970 a year, or $59.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid detectives and criminal investigators make in El Centro, CA?
The top 10% of detectives and criminal investigators in the El Centro, CA metro area earn at least $130,850 a year. The top 25% earn $127,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for detectives and criminal investigators in El Centro, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,610 a year, and a quarter of detectives and criminal investigators earn $106,750 or less.
How many detectives and criminal investigators work in El Centro, CA?
About 770 detectives and criminal investigators are employed in the El Centro, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.