Crime Scene Investigators Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$72,150
Highest Paying City
San Jose
$101,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Crime Scene Investigators Do?
Crime Scene Investigators serve their communities by maintaining public safety, preventing crime, and responding to emergency situations. Their training and vigilance help protect lives and property.
Work environments vary from patrol vehicles and offices to outdoor posts and emergency scenes. Many roles require shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The work can be physically demanding and stressful.
Key Skills for Crime Scene Investigators
Education Requirements
High school diploma to bachelor's degree, depending on the role
Requirements vary significantly. Police officers typically need some college education or a degree. Firefighters usually need a high school diploma plus fire academy training. Federal law enforcement positions often require a bachelor's degree.
Career Outlook
Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average, with ongoing need for public safety professionals in communities of all sizes.
How to Increase Your Crime Scene Investigators Salary
- 1.Earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice for federal or detective roles
- 2.Develop leadership skills for promotion to supervisory positions
- 3.Build expertise in emerging areas like cybercrime or digital forensics
- 4.Consider bilingual skills for serving diverse communities
- 5.Pursue lateral moves to specialized units for higher pay and career growth
Crime Scene Investigators Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $101,000 | $107,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Francisco, CA | $99,000 | $110,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $93,000 | $102,000 | $56,000 - $121,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $91,000 | $100,000 | $55,000 - $118,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $88,000 | $96,000 | $53,000 - $114,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $88,000 | $92,000 | $53,000 - $114,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $84,000 | $94,000 | $50,000 - $109,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $84,000 | $93,000 | $50,000 - $109,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $80,000 | $85,000 | $48,000 - $104,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $80,000 | $88,000 | $48,000 - $104,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $80,000 | $88,000 | $48,000 - $104,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $79,000 | $87,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $79,000 | $87,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $79,000 | $84,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $79,000 | $86,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $78,000 | $86,000 | $47,000 - $101,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $77,000 | $80,000 | $46,000 - $100,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $76,000 | $79,000 | $46,000 - $99,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $76,000 | $83,000 | $46,000 - $99,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $76,000 | $85,000 | $46,000 - $99,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $75,000 | $79,000 | $45,000 - $98,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $74,000 | $81,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $74,000 | $76,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $72,000 | $77,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $72,000 | $77,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $71,000 | $79,000 | $43,000 - $92,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $71,000 | $73,000 | $43,000 - $92,000 | USD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $70,000 | $75,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $70,000 | $73,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $70,000 | $72,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $70,000 | $75,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $70,000 | $76,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $69,000 | $75,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $69,000 | $77,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $69,000 | $74,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $69,000 | $76,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $69,000 | $77,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $68,000 | $70,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $68,000 | $71,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $68,000 | $70,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $68,000 | $70,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $68,000 | $74,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $67,000 | $73,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $67,000 | $75,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $67,000 | $71,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $67,000 | $73,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $66,000 | $71,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $66,000 | $72,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $66,000 | $73,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $66,000 | $71,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $66,000 | $71,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $65,000 | $68,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $63,000 | $69,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $63,000 | $66,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $60,000 | $62,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $56,000 | $62,000 | $36,000 - $71,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $55,000 | $58,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $55,000 | $59,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $52,000 | $57,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $51,000 | $56,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |