State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs New Jersey
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In New Jersey, $116,300. After cost-of-living, the gap is 5.5% — not 7.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+7.3%
California vs New Jersey
COL-adjusted gap
+5.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
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
New Jersey
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $116,300
- p25
- $91,360
- p75
- $134,000
- p10
- $73,100
- p90
- $165,570
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 108.8
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.