Detectives and Criminal Investigators Pay Range in New Jersey
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$73,100
- 25th Percentile — Junior$91,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$116,300
- 75th Percentile — Senior$134,000
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$165,570
Half of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Jersey earn more than $116,300. The top 10% make $165,570 or more, while entry-level workers start around $73,100.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Jersey: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- New Jersey ranks 10th of 51 states for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay, at $116,540 per year (17.2% above the U.S. average of $99,430).
- 3,080 people work as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Jersey — 2.7% of all U.S. Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.98: Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs are less concentrated in New Jersey than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,100; the top 10% earn over $165,570.
- Hourly equivalent: $56.03 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $148,110.
- Among public safety jobs in New Jersey, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($145,430).
Detectives and Criminal Investigators Job Market in New Jersey
Key factors affecting compensation
New Jersey's key industries are Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Technology, and its job market is rated strong. Detectives and Criminal Investigators here earn $116,540 on average, placing the state 10th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.28 (U.S. = 1.00), a New Jersey salary of $116,540 is roughly equivalent to $91,047 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Virginia ($119,620), Massachusetts ($118,130), Washington ($118,040) 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
Other Public Safety Jobs in New Jersey
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $145,430/yr New Jersey +24.8% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $137,140/yr New Jersey +17.7% vs this role
- Police Officers $93,700/yr New Jersey 19.6% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $87,780/yr New Jersey 24.7% vs this role
- Firefighters $85,810/yr New Jersey 26.4% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $66,160/yr New Jersey 43.2% vs this role
- Security Guards $43,520/yr New Jersey 62.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in New Jersey?
The average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in New Jersey is $116,540 per year (median $116,300), which is 17.2% above the national average of $99,430.
How does New Jersey rank for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay?
New Jersey ranks 10th 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 New Jersey?
The lowest-paid 10% of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in New Jersey earn about $73,100 per year and the 25th percentile is $91,360.
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make per hour in New Jersey?
About $56.03 per hour, based on the $116,540 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Detectives and Criminal Investigators work in New Jersey?
BLS counts 3,080 Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs in New Jersey (OEWS May 2025).
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