State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs South Dakota
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In South Dakota, $77,730. After cost-of-living, the gap is 28.5% — not 60.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+60.6%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+28.5%
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
South Dakota
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $77,730
- p25
- $63,110
- p75
- $110,880
- p10
- $60,210
- p90
- $149,280
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.