State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs Wisconsin
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In Wisconsin, $91,040. After cost-of-living, the gap is 16.6% — not 37.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+37.1%
California vs Wisconsin
COL-adjusted gap
+16.6%
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
Wisconsin
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $91,040
- p25
- $78,700
- p75
- $97,120
- p10
- $70,060
- p90
- $103,130
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.1
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.