Total earnings for detectives who work for state and local government agencies often exceed the salary displayed because of overtime pay. Federal law provides special salary rates for federal law enforcement agents. This is because they are required to work a set number of overtime hours. They receive an additional 25 percent of their regular salary for overtime.
Wages vary by employer and area of the country. Wages also vary by the detective's rank or level of education.
Full-time detectives and investigators usually receive benefits. These include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. They also receive life insurance and excellent retirement plans. Many retire at half-pay after 20 or 25 years of service.
Detectives and criminal investigators (SOC 33-3021)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $38.45 | $47.76 | $58.29 |
| Yearly | $79,980 | $99,334 | $121,246 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $31.29 | $43.62 | $45.12 |
| Yearly | $65,088 | $90,730 | $93,849 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $32.29 | $33.50 | $37.12 |
| Yearly | $67,165 | $69,669 | $77,200 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $41.43 | $53.32 | $65.90 |
| Yearly | $86,169 | $110,907 | $137,073 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $26.75 | $31.63 | $40.22 |
| Yearly | $55,633 | $65,777 | $83,649 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $38.52 | $48.26 | $50.24 |
| Yearly | $80,105 | $100,381 | $104,517 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $39.49 | $42.74 | $48.45 |
| Yearly | $82,142 | $88,896 | $100,766 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $32.42 | $37.36 | $50.97 |
| Yearly | $67,439 | $77,700 | $106,028 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $35.65 | $45.95 | $51.84 |
| Yearly | $74,156 | $95,571 | $107,832 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $35.40 | $44.33 | $50.33 |
| Yearly | $73,635 | $92,201 | $104,689 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $31.31 | $44.33 | $53.40 |
| Yearly | $65,125 | $92,201 | $111,066 | |
| Mt. Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area | Hourly | $31.35 | $41.43 | $58.29 |
| Yearly | $65,199 | $86,178 | $121,246 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $30.67 | $33.96 | $44.32 |
| Yearly | $63,793 | $70,632 | $92,173 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $32.73 | $42.33 | $47.85 |
| Yearly | $68,072 | $88,043 | $99,527 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $28.80 | $36.57 | $39.63 |
| Yearly | $59,902 | $76,078 | $82,430 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $33.80 | $46.93 | $65.97 |
| Yearly | $70,303 | $97,622 | $137,225 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $41.99 | $45.25 | $45.25 |
| Yearly | $87,331 | $94,122 | $94,122 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $28.57 | $37.99 | $45.74 |
| Yearly | $59,426 | $79,026 | $95,136 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $32.42 | $39.63 | $48.02 |
| Yearly | $67,439 | $82,440 | $99,875 | |
| St. Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $40.62 | $52.80 | $66.40 |
| Yearly | $84,483 | $109,833 | $138,116 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $34.25 | $45.95 | $50.11 |
| Yearly | $71,234 | $95,571 | $104,214 | |
| United States | Hourly | $29.44 | $41.48 | $53.14 |
| Yearly | $61,240 | $86,280 | $110,530 | |