Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in North Carolina

Detectives and Criminal Investigatorss in North Carolina have a median annual salary of $63,280, which works out to about $30.43 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $57,040 to $80,330, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

33-3021 · Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in North Carolina at a glance

Median annual salary

$63,280

Median hourly wage

$30.43/hr

Average annual salary

$76,020

Average hourly wage

$36.55/hr

25th percentile

$57,040

75th percentile

$80,330

10th percentile

$50,260

90th percentile

$137,550

People employed

3,360

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid detectives and criminal investigators roles in North Carolina.

10th percentile
$50,260
25th percentile
$57,040
Median percentile
$63,280
75th percentile
$80,330
90th percentile
$137,550

North Carolina vs U.S. salary

The median salary for detectives and criminal investigators roles in North Carolina is about 32.5% below the U.S. median of $93,790 for the same occupation.

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How much does a detectives and criminal investigators make in North Carolina?

Half of detectives and criminal investigators roles in North Carolina report earning more than $63,280 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $76,020 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $57,040 and a quarter are above $80,330, so most detectives and criminal investigators pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect detectives and criminal investigators pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in other states

Related jobs in North Carolina

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.