Paycheck Atlas

Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median detectives and criminal investigators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $102,710 a year, 10% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $6,158 a month.

10th percentile
$77,980
25th percentile
$102,710
Median percentile
$102,710
75th percentile
$125,820
90th percentile
$149,820

Based on 40 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

$73,897 take-home a year
Gross pay$102,710
Federal income tax−$13,766
Social Security + Medicare−$7,857
California income tax (approx.)−$7,190
Monthly take-home$6,158
Every two weeks$2,842

Does it go far here?

$93,461Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
37%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,264 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

JobMedian pay
Registered Nurses$170,960
Software Developers$156,910
Sales Managers$117,090
General and Operations Managers$105,360
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,260
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,810
Accountants and Auditors$84,920
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,010

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