SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — Northwestern Region of Texas
Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Northwestern Region of Texas, TX is $88,610 per year, close to the national median of $93,790 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Northwestern Region of Texas, TX is $88,610 per year, close to the national median of $93,790 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $55,930 at the tenth percentile to more than $109,300 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $63,130 to $97,470.
The area has 500 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.6 of every thousand jobs. Brownsville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $109,300. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 60th of 375 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,930 | −40.4% |
| 25th | $63,130 | −32.7% |
| Median (50th) | $88,610 | −5.5% |
| 75th | $97,470 | +3.9% |
| 90th | $109,300 | +16.5% |
| Mean | $83,640 | −10.8% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownsville | $109,300 | 880 | |
| 2 | El Paso | $109,300 | 1,790 | |
| 3 | San Angelo | $106,580 | 80 | |
| 4 | McAllen | $103,380 | 1,600 | |
| 5 | Laredo | $98,180 | 1,410 | |
| 6 | Eagle Pass | $91,560 | 590 | |
| 7 | Corpus Christi | $89,970 | 180 | |
| 8 | Houston | $86,390 | 1,870 | |
| 9 | Dallas | $86,110 | 1,830 | |
| 10 | San Antonio | $83,830 | 1,670 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northwestern Region of Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $88,610 goes as far as $91,256 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$88,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$91,256US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $88,610 a year, 5.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $55,930 to $109,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 500 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Brownsville, at $109,300.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Northwestern Region of Texas, TX?
The median annual wage is $88,610, or $42.60 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 Northwestern Region of Texas, TX is 5.5% 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 Northwestern Region of Texas, TX earns more than $109,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $55,930 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 Brownsville, at $109,300 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 500 jobs in this occupation in Northwestern Region of Texas, TX. 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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