BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Alabama

$79,070 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$38.01 per hour

▼ 20.5% below U.S. average43rd of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$79,070per year
Median$66,290per year
Hourly$38.01per hour
10th – 90th percentile$43,060 – $150,780per year

Detectives and Criminal Investigators Pay Range in Alabama

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$43,060
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$49,860
  • 50th Percentile — Median$66,290
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$92,610
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$150,780

Half of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Alabama earn more than $66,290. The top 10% make $150,780 or more, while entry-level workers start around $43,060.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Alabama: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Alabama ranks 43rd of 51 states for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay, at $79,070 per year (20.5% below the U.S. average of $99,430).
  • 1,340 people work as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Alabama — 1.2% of all U.S. Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.86: Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs are less concentrated in Alabama than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $43,060; the top 10% earn over $150,780.
  • Hourly equivalent: $38.01 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $148,110.
  • Among public safety jobs in Alabama, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($82,000).

Detectives and Criminal Investigators Job Market in Alabama

Key factors affecting compensation

Alabama's key industries are Automotive, Aerospace, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Detectives and Criminal Investigators here earn $79,070 on average, placing the state 43rd nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a Alabama salary of $79,070 is roughly equivalent to $90,885 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Oklahoma ($86,620), Missouri ($85,720), New Mexico ($84,880) are the closest alternatives for Detectives and Criminal Investigators weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Alabama?

The average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Alabama is $79,070 per year (median $66,290), which is 20.5% below the national average of $99,430.

How does Alabama rank for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay?

Alabama ranks 43rd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($148,110/yr).

How much do entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in Alabama?

The lowest-paid 10% of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Alabama earn about $43,060 per year and the 25th percentile is $49,860.

How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make per hour in Alabama?

About $38.01 per hour, based on the $79,070 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Detectives and Criminal Investigators work in Alabama?

BLS counts 1,340 Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs in Alabama (OEWS May 2025).

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