State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs Pennsylvania
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In Pennsylvania, $97,580. After cost-of-living, the gap is 12.8% — not 27.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+27.9%
California vs Pennsylvania
COL-adjusted gap
+12.8%
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
Pennsylvania
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $97,580
- p25
- $79,190
- p75
- $116,960
- p10
- $63,770
- p90
- $154,360
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 97.6
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.