SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — New Jersey
New Jersey · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Jersey is $116,300 per year, 24.0% above the national median of $93,790.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Jersey is $116,300 per year, 24.0% above the national median of $93,790. Pay ranges from under $73,100 at the tenth percentile to more than $165,570 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $91,360 to $134,000.
The area has 3,080 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.7 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, New Jersey ranks 5th by median wage. Trenton leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $110,750. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 111th of 736 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $73,100 | −22.1% |
| 25th | $91,360 | −2.6% |
| Median (50th) | $116,300 | +24.0% |
| 75th | $134,000 | +42.9% |
| 90th | $165,570 | +76.5% |
| Mean | $116,540 | +24.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Jersey
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton | $110,750 | 370 | |
| 2 | Vineland | $102,980 | 70 | |
| 3 | Atlantic City | $99,860 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $116,300 buys what $106,893 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$116,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$106,893US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $116,300 a year, 24.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $73,100 to $165,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,080 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Trenton, at $110,750.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Jersey?
The median annual wage is $116,300, or $55.92 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 New Jersey is 24.0% 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 New Jersey earns more than $165,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $73,100 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 Trenton, at $110,750 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,080 jobs in this occupation in New Jersey. 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.
Explore related data