State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs North Carolina
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In North Carolina, $63,280. After cost-of-living, the gap is 68.1% — not 97.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+97.3%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+68.1%
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
North Carolina
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $63,280
- p25
- $57,040
- p75
- $80,330
- p10
- $50,260
- p90
- $137,550
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
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.