Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in El Paso, TX
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the El Paso, TX metro area earn a median of $109,300 a year ($52.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,500 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $93,790. Pay here is 21% higher than the Texas statewide median of $90,510. There are 5.3 detectives and criminal investigators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 7.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $100,100, close to the median.
Pay range for detectives and criminal investigators in El Paso, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,620 | $27.22 |
| 25th percentile | $79,380 | $38.17 |
| Median | $109,300 | $52.55 |
| 75th percentile | $109,300 | $52.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,500 | $67.55 |
| Average (mean) | $100,100 | $48.13 |
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 | $9,108.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,554.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,203.85 |
| Weekly | $2,101.92 |
| Hourly | $52.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $109,300 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $109,300 | 880 |
| San Angelo, TX | $106,580 | 80 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $103,380 | 1,600 |
| Laredo, TX | $98,180 | 1,410 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $91,560 | 590 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $89,970 | 180 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $86,390 | 1,870 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $86,110 | 1,830 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $83,830 | 1,670 |
| Tyler, TX | $79,710 | 120 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $78,970 | 1,710 |
| Midland, TX | $78,920 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $76,320 | 40 |
| Amarillo, TX | $74,980 | 90 |
| Lubbock, TX | $72,820 | 280 |
| Waco, TX | $70,990 | 120 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $70,760 | 110 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $70,740 | 30 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $70,590 | 130 |
| Longview, TX | $63,950 | 60 |
| Abilene, TX | $59,980 | 60 |
| Victoria, TX | $58,030 | 50 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $55,950 | 30 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Paso, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $47,650 | $22.91 |
| Security Guard | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| Firefighter | $50,300 | $24.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $62,670 | $30.13 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,180 | $15.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $115,820 | $55.68 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| School Bus Monitor | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $27,260 | $13.11 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $62,590 | $30.09 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $39,720 | $19.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $71,100 | $34.18 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in El Paso, TX
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 Paso, TX?
The median salary for detectives and criminal investigators in the El Paso, TX metro area is $109,300 a year, or $52.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid detectives and criminal investigators make in El Paso, TX?
The top 10% of detectives and criminal investigators in the El Paso, TX metro area earn at least $140,500 a year. The top 25% earn $109,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for detectives and criminal investigators in El Paso, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,620 a year, and a quarter of detectives and criminal investigators earn $79,380 or less.
How many detectives and criminal investigators work in El Paso, TX?
About 1,790 detectives and criminal investigators are employed in the El Paso, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.