SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — South Carolina
South Carolina · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in South Carolina is $62,760 per year, substantially below the national median of $93,790 — a gap of 33.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in South Carolina is $62,760 per year, substantially below the national median of $93,790 — a gap of 33.1%. Pay ranges from under $50,960 at the tenth percentile to more than $149,280 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $55,490 to $77,200.
The area has 1,470 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.6 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, South Carolina ranks 48th by median wage. Charleston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,410. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 274th of 713 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,960 | −45.7% |
| 25th | $55,490 | −40.8% |
| Median (50th) | $62,760 | −33.1% |
| 75th | $77,200 | −17.7% |
| 90th | $149,280 | +59.2% |
| Mean | $77,020 | −17.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $78,410 | 190 | |
| 2 | Myrtle Beach | $72,060 | 90 | |
| 3 | Columbia | $66,340 | 580 | |
| 4 | Greenville | $62,700 | 170 | |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $61,920 | 40 | |
| 6 | Sumter | $56,500 | 40 | |
| 7 | Florence | $55,320 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $62,760 goes as far as $66,980 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 28.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,760as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,980US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,760 a year, 33.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,960 to $149,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,470 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $78,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $62,760, or $30.17 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 South Carolina is 33.1% 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 South Carolina earns more than $149,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,960 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 Charleston, at $78,410 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,470 jobs in this occupation in South Carolina. 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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