State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs Tennessee
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In Tennessee, $77,090. After cost-of-living, the gap is 34.4% — not 61.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+61.9%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+34.4%
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
Tennessee
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $77,090
- p25
- $60,730
- p75
- $107,810
- p10
- $49,660
- p90
- $149,280
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
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.