State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: Arizona vs California
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In Arizona, $102,340. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.9% — not 18%.
Nominal pay gap
-18%
Arizona vs California
COL-adjusted gap
-9.9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Arizona
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $102,340
- p25
- $77,730
- p75
- $111,360
- p10
- $60,590
- p90
- $142,380
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.7
California
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $124,840
- p25
- $99,270
- p75
- $136,020
- p10
- $78,280
- p90
- $165,510
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.