State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs New Mexico
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In New Mexico, $86,840. After cost-of-living, the gap is 19.7% — not 43.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+43.8%
California vs New Mexico
COL-adjusted gap
+19.7%
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 Mexico
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $86,840
- p25
- $59,160
- p75
- $109,300
- p10
- $47,480
- p90
- $111,970
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 92.2
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.