← All occupations
SOC 33-3021·Protective ServiceGood pay · growing
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Median wage
$106,277
10-yr outlook
+20.4%by 2032
Openings / year
1,069
Workers in NY
9,410
How pay grows with experience
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $68,353 |
| Median (typical) | $106,277 |
| Experienced | $129,778 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Long Island | $167,057 |
| Hudson Valley | $116,147 |
| Finger Lakes | $110,786 |
| North Country | $110,294 |
| Capital Region | $108,206 |
| Southern Tier | $103,081 |
| Western New York | $98,167 |
| Central New York | $96,544 |
| Mohawk Valley | $96,017 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
A realistic next step
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Protective Service) that pay more than this one. A plain “same field, higher pay” guide — not a skills-match score.
Ways in
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Protective Service) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$100,161 median (−$6,116) · +5.7% by 2032
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$95,700 median (−$10,577) · +20.5% by 2032
- First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other$94,783 median (−$11,494)
- Firefighters$90,893 median (−$15,384) · +20.5% by 2032
- Bailiffs$83,230 median (−$23,047) · +12.7% by 2032
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$77,474 median (−$28,803) · +8.8% by 2032
Find jobs & training
Live openings and training are run by the State and federal partners — we link you straight there.