SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — Bellingham
Bellingham, WA · 6 metro areas compared
At $122,840 a year, the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Bellingham, WA sits 31.0% above the national figure of $93,790.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $122,840 a year, the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Bellingham, WA sits 31.0% above the national figure of $93,790. Half of workers earn between $119,520 and $126,170. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $106,250 and the ninetieth at $177,650.
The area has 260 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.9 of every thousand jobs. Seattle leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $123,820. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 29th of 321 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $106,250 | +13.3% |
| 25th | $119,520 | +27.4% |
| Median (50th) | $122,840 | +31.0% |
| 75th | $126,170 | +34.5% |
| 90th | $177,650 | +89.4% |
| Mean | $130,310 | +38.9% |
Other metro areas in Washington
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bellingham run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $122,840 buys what $114,804 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 22.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$122,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$114,804US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $122,840 a year, 31.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $106,250 to $177,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 260 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $123,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Bellingham, WA?
The median annual wage is $122,840, or $59.06 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $93,790, so pay in Bellingham, WA is 31.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bellingham, WA earns more than $177,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $106,250 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Seattle, at $123,820 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 260 jobs in this occupation in Bellingham, WA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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