State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs West Virginia
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In West Virginia, $92,410. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.2% — not 35.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+35.1%
California vs West Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+9.2%
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
West Virginia
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $92,410
- p25
- $56,770
- p75
- $149,280
- p10
- $48,450
- p90
- $171,250
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 89.5
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.