What is the best state to be a detectives and criminal investigators?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a detectives and criminal investigators: a BLS median of $160,760 is worth $136,460 after the 2025 state income tax ($10,790) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 152.8 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a detectives and criminal investigators at $160,760, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 152.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Best States to Be a Detectives and Criminal Investigators

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a detectives and criminal investigators salary goes furthest in District of Columbia — a $160,760 BLS median worth $136,460 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 152.8).

Which US states are best for a detectives and criminal investigators after cost of living and tax?

For a detectives and criminal investigators, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks District of Columbia #1: a $160,760 BLS median becomes $136,460 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 152.8). Arkansas ranks last ($60,484, index 67.7). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

District of Columbia ranks #1 of 51 states for a detectives and criminal investigators. Index 100 = the average state; 152.8 means pay goes 52.8% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

152.8

Detectives and Criminal Investigators — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	District of Columbia	$160,760	$10,790	109.9	$136,460	152.8
2	Delaware	$122,050	$6,714	99.8	$115,558	129.4
3	Maryland	$126,730	$5,739	105.0	$115,275	129.1
4	Alaska	$114,940	—	102.4	$112,291	125.7
5	Washington	$115,790	—	107.0	$108,202	121.2
6	Nebraska	$100,530	$4,131	90.1	$106,987	119.8
7	California	$124,840	$7,488	110.7	$105,990	118.7
8	Virginia	$112,760	$5,684	101.1	$105,907	118.6
9	Vermont	$106,330	$4,636	98.0	$103,814	116.2
10	New Jersey	$116,300	$5,218	108.8	$102,092	114.3
11	Arizona	$102,340	$2,084	100.7	$99,582	111.5
12	West Virginia	$92,410	$3,519	89.5	$99,323	111.2
13	Massachusetts	$110,150	$5,288	105.8	$99,154	111.0
14	Colorado	$105,480	$3,981	103.1	$98,493	110.3
15	Hawaii	$113,940	$7,129	110.0	$97,144	108.8
16	Pennsylvania	$97,580	$2,996	97.6	$96,938	108.5
17	Oregon	$107,450	$8,598	103.4	$95,638	107.1
18	Nevada	$94,470	—	100.0	$94,490	105.8
19	Texas	$90,510	—	97.1	$93,254	104.4
20	Montana	$92,410	$4,314	94.6	$93,080	104.2
21	Wisconsin	$91,040	$3,673	94.1	$92,850	104.0
22	North Dakota	$82,290	$367	89.0	$92,091	103.1
23	New Mexico	$86,840	$2,978	92.2	$90,945	101.8
24	Michigan	$90,650	$3,606	96.2	$90,466	101.3
25	New York	$101,240	$5,026	107.9	$89,152	99.8
26	Connecticut	$95,240	$3,663	103.6	$88,386	99.0
27	Wyoming	$81,880	—	92.7	$88,337	98.9
28	Oklahoma	$80,430	$3,283	87.8	$87,824	98.3
29	South Dakota	$77,730	—	88.6	$87,745	98.3
30	Iowa	$79,560	$2,983	87.8	$87,255	97.7
31	Illinois	$91,190	$4,373	100.0	$86,854	97.3
32	Maine	$88,310	$4,365	97.0	$86,497	96.9
33	New Hampshire	$89,290	—	104.2	$85,720	96.0
34	Ohio	$79,300	$1,398	92.8	$83,969	94.0
35	Tennessee	$77,090	—	91.9	$83,912	94.0
36	Rhode Island	$88,450	$2,717	102.3	$83,822	93.9
37	Missouri	$75,650	$2,675	90.8	$80,354	90.0
38	Kansas	$75,740	$3,427	90.1	$80,288	89.9
39	Minnesota	$80,000	$3,951	98.6	$77,112	86.3
40	Kentucky	$71,670	$2,736	90.2	$76,458	85.6
41	Utah	$78,920	$3,591	98.9	$76,195	85.3
42	Florida	$77,060	—	103.4	$74,516	83.4
43	Indiana	$70,340	$2,080	93.3	$73,139	81.9
44	Idaho	$72,520	$3,010	95.5	$72,790	81.5
45	Alabama	$66,290	$3,050	88.8	$71,198	79.7
46	Louisiana	$60,450	$1,439	88.2	$66,901	74.9
47	Mississippi	$58,640	$1,775	87.0	$65,397	73.2
48	Georgia	$65,430	$2,880	96.3	$64,958	72.7
49	North Carolina	$63,280	$2,148	94.3	$64,810	72.6
50	South Carolina	$62,760	$2,284	93.7	$64,509	72.2
51	Arkansas	$54,500	$1,917	86.9	$60,484	67.7

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In District of Columbia, a $160,760 salary is worth about $130,552 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $17,282 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $143,478 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $181,473, a $50,921 gain over District of Columbia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$181,473	88.6
2	Arkansas	$177,704	86.9
3	Louisiana	$176,786	88.2
4	Mississippi	$176,747	87.0
5	Iowa	$176,216	87.8
6	North Dakota	$176,195	89.0
7	Tennessee	$174,986	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$174,315	87.8
9	Wyoming	$173,436	92.7
10	Alabama	$171,940	88.8
11	Kentucky	$171,175	90.2
12	West Virginia	$170,968	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Detectives and Criminal Investigators — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a detectives and criminal investigators?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a detectives and criminal investigators: a BLS median of $160,760 is worth $136,460 after the 2025 state income tax ($10,790) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 152.8 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a detectives and criminal investigators at $160,760, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 152.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a detectives and criminal investigators salary go least far?: Arkansas ranks last of 51 states for a detectives and criminal investigators: a $54,500 BLS median is worth only $60,484 after tax and cost of living (index 67.7). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a detectives and criminal investigators is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.