Paycheck Atlas

Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in San Diego, CA

The median detectives and criminal investigators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earns $124,840 a year, 33% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $7,321 a month.

10th percentile
$77,790
25th percentile
$104,600
Median percentile
$124,840
75th percentile
$128,230
90th percentile
$167,110

Based on 2,990 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$87,855 take-home a year
Gross pay$124,840
Federal income tax−$18,696
Social Security + Medicare−$9,550
California income tax (approx.)−$8,739
Monthly take-home$7,321
Every two weeks$3,379

Does it go far here?

$111,577Median pay in San Diego, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 111.9 vs 100).
31%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,246 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in San Diego, CA

JobMedian pay
Physicians, All Other$323,050
Family Medicine Physicians$295,530
Pediatricians, General$262,650
Chief Executives$238,440
Natural Sciences Managers$207,200
Computer and Information Systems Managers$206,740
Architectural and Engineering Managers$202,810
Lawyers$178,220

All detectives and criminal investigators salaries · Take-home pay in California