SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — Southwest New York
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
In Southwest New York, NY the median wage is $86,000.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Southwest New York, NY the median wage is $86,000. That is 8.3% lower than the national median of $93,790. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $65,710 and $109,230. The lowest tenth earn under $57,420, while the highest tenth earn more than $112,700.
Employment stands at 230, or 1.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Kiryas Joel leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $111,860. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 72nd of 429 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $57,420 | −38.8% |
| 25th | $65,710 | −29.9% |
| Median (50th) | $86,000 | −8.3% |
| 75th | $109,230 | +16.5% |
| 90th | $112,700 | +20.2% |
| Mean | $87,560 | −6.6% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiryas Joel | $111,860 | 270 | |
| 2 | Rochester | $107,660 | 450 | |
| 3 | New York | $106,440 | 7,580 | |
| 4 | Watertown | $106,110 | 70 | |
| 5 | Albany | $99,010 | 960 | |
| 6 | Syracuse | $98,390 | 340 | |
| 7 | Buffalo | $95,150 | 850 | |
| 8 | Binghamton | $91,470 | 100 | |
| 9 | Utica | $90,430 | 130 | |
| 10 | Kingston | $87,990 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $86,000 buys what $79,703 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 15.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$86,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,703US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $86,000 a year, 8.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $57,420 to $112,700 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kiryas Joel, at $111,860.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Southwest New York, NY?
The median annual wage is $86,000, or $41.34 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 Southwest New York, NY is 8.3% 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 Southwest New York, NY earns more than $112,700 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $57,420 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 Kiryas Joel, at $111,860 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Southwest New York, NY. 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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