Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Texas
In Texas, the median pay for detectives and criminal investigators is $43.51 an hour ($90,510 a year). About 18,870 people work in this job there.
That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($93,790). Texas ranks 25th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for detectives and criminal investigators in Texas
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $25.24 | $52,510 |
| 25% of workers | $31.09 | $64,660 |
| Half of workers (median) | $43.51 | $90,510 |
| 75% of workers | $52.55 | $109,300 |
| 90% of workers | $63.87 | $132,850 |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Texas metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $109,300 | 880 |
| El Paso | $109,300 | 1,790 |
| San Angelo | $106,580 | 80 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $103,380 | 1,600 |
| Laredo | $98,180 | 1,410 |
| Eagle Pass | $91,560 | 590 |
| Corpus Christi | $89,970 | 180 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $86,390 | 1,870 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $86,110 | 1,830 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $83,830 | 1,670 |
| Tyler | $79,710 | 120 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $78,970 | 1,710 |
| Midland | $78,920 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan | $76,320 | 40 |
| Amarillo | $74,980 | 90 |
| Lubbock | $72,820 | 280 |
| Waco | $70,990 | 120 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $70,760 | 110 |
| Sherman-Denison | $70,740 | 30 |
| Killeen-Temple | $70,590 | 130 |
| Longview | $63,950 | 60 |
| Abilene | $59,980 | 60 |
| Victoria | $58,030 | 50 |
| Texarkana | $55,950 | 30 |
Texas unemployment rate: 4.4% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for detectives and criminal investigators
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.2% over ten years, little or no change · about 7,800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,900 |
| Compliance Officers | $75,370 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $71,650 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $52,880 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $111,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $62,590 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,810 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $59,870 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.