SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — Hickory
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Hickory, NC is $57,220 per year, substantially below the national median of $93,790 — a gap of 39.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Hickory, NC is $57,220 per year, substantially below the national median of $93,790 — a gap of 39.0%. Pay ranges from under $48,340 at the tenth percentile to more than $72,750 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $52,270 to $59,650.
Employment stands at 100, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Jacksonville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $92,410. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 151st of 385 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,340 | −48.5% |
| 25th | $52,270 | −44.3% |
| Median (50th) | $57,220 | −39.0% |
| 75th | $59,650 | −36.4% |
| 90th | $72,750 | −22.4% |
| Mean | $58,020 | −38.1% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville | $92,410 | 100 | |
| 2 | Raleigh | $77,210 | 630 | |
| 3 | Charlotte | $71,460 | 600 | |
| 4 | Durham | $68,790 | 160 | |
| 5 | Rocky Mount | $67,970 | 30 | |
| 6 | Fayetteville | $64,590 | 170 | |
| 7 | Burlington | $63,780 | 50 | |
| 8 | Wilmington | $62,580 | 210 | |
| 9 | Asheville | $62,460 | 140 | |
| 10 | Winston-Salem | $62,260 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hickory run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $57,220 goes as far as $60,679 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 35.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,679US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,220 a year, 39.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,340 to $72,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Jacksonville, at $92,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Hickory, NC?
The median annual wage is $57,220, or $27.51 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 Hickory, NC is 39.0% lower. 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 Hickory, NC earns more than $72,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,340 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 Jacksonville, at $92,410 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Hickory, NC. 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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