Detective and Criminal Investigator Salary in New York, NY
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $106,440 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,471 take-home, or $6,539 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median detective and criminal investigator salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,587
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,599
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,543
- New York income tax$5,240
- Take-home pay$78,471
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $3,691 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $74,780 ($6,232 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Detective and Criminal Investigator pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,130 | $29.87 | $49,343 | $4,112 |
| 25th percentile | $78,210 | $37.60 | $60,224 | $5,019 |
| Median (50th) | $106,440 | $51.17 | $78,471 | $6,539 |
| 75th percentile | $149,340 | $71.80 | $105,569 | $8,797 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,930 | $84.58 | $122,175 | $10,181 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,440 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median detective and criminal investigator's $78,471 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,713 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Detective and Criminal Investigator jobs are about as common in New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for detectives and criminal investigators, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #4 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $156,750 | $108,049 | $99,233 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $127,890 | $89,352 | $78,679 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $124,840 | $87,591 | $78,285 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $106,440 | $78,471 | $69,713 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $69,900 | $55,000 | $54,968 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: detectives and criminal investigators
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a detective and criminal investigator make in New York, NY?
The median detective and criminal investigator salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $106,440 a year, or about $51.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,210 and $149,340.
What is a detective and criminal investigator’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $106,440 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $78,471 a year ($6,539 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,240 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a detective and criminal investigator?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $93,790. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,713 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #4 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a detective and criminal investigator afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median detective and criminal investigator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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