State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs Texas
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In Texas, $90,510. After cost-of-living, the gap is 21% — not 37.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+37.9%
California vs Texas
COL-adjusted gap
+21%
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
Texas
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $90,510
- p25
- $64,660
- p75
- $109,300
- p10
- $52,510
- p90
- $132,850
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 97.1
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.