Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $113,210 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Traverse City earn between $71,520 and $87,860.
- $72K10th
- $72K25th
- $73KMedian
- $88K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,560 | $6,880 | $39.69 |
| Median | $73,050 | $6,088 | $35.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,520 | $5,960 | $34.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $87,860 | $7,322 | $42.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Traverse City earn 20% less than the Michigan average ($103,190) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $82,560 | $73,050 | $71,520 | $113,210 | 50 |
| Michigan | $103,190 | $90,650 | $71,590 | $164,670 | 2,220 |
| United States | $99,430 | $93,790 | $55,390 | $160,540 | 114,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary after taxes in Traverse City
On the average salary of $82,560, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $63,649 a year, or $5,304 a month and $2,448 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Traverse City a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Traverse City area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $82,560 buys what about $88,421 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 8th of 9 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($119,520).
- Ann Arbor$119,520
- Detroit$110,900
- Flint$106,120
- Grand Rapids$105,870
- Lansing$95,250
- Kalamazoo$94,310
- Battle Creek$85,560
- Traverse City$82,560
- Saginaw$81,590
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Michigan
Highest-paying cities for detectives and criminal investigators
Brunswick, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,490).
- Brunswick, GA$148,490
- Washington, DC$146,910
- San Jose, CA$144,580
- Oxnard, CA$138,040
- San Francisco, CA$135,460
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Traverse City: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Traverse City?
$39.69 an hour on average, and $35.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $63,649 a year ($5,304 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,560.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Traverse City than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($99,430).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-3021; area Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.