How much does a Detective make in Los Angeles, CA? The average salary for Detective is $61,968 per year in Los Angeles, CA Area.

The average salary for a detective in California is around $100,310 per year.

Salary Ranges for Homicide Detectives The middle 57% of Homicide Detectives makes between $66,310 and $166,952, with the top 86% making $368,332.

Steps to Becoming a Homicide Detective

1. Step 1: Obtain a college degree.
2. Step 2: Attend a police academy.
3. Step 3: Pass relevant tests.
4. Step 4: Gain experience as a police officer.

Do I need to be a police officer before I can be a CSI? The short answer is no, CSI’s are both sworn police officers and civilians. The longer answer is that most CSI’s are sworn officers, but there is a large number of civilians doing the same job.

If you want to use your investigative skills to truly fight crime, pursuing a police detective career is the best choice for you. It’s a great career fit for people with meticulous attention to detail, a strong ethical compass,2 and the patience and perseverance to investigate criminal cases that may progress slowly.

According to 2019 BLS stats, the average, annual salary for private investigators in California was $64,110. In fact, the top 10% here earn an average salary of $106,300.

Being a detective can be exciting, but it also requires hard work, perseverance, and long hours spent following leads and waiting for developments. There are two main types of detectives: police detectives and private detectives. If you want to know if you have what it takes to become a detective, follow these steps.

Police and detective work can be physically demanding, stressful, and dangerous. Officers must be alert and ready to react throughout their entire shift. Officers regularly work at crime and accident scenes and encounter suffering and the results of violence.

Consider earning an advanced degree, such as a master’s in criminal justice, sociology, forensic science, or a similar area. Some programs are available online. Look for shorter-term educational opportunities, such as seminars or continuing education classes in these same areas.

Police detectives tend to earn significantly more than private detectives. The BLS reports that as of May 2016, the average annual pay of a police detective was $81,490 a year, and the median income was $78,120 a year. Fifty percent of police investigators earned between $55,180 and $103,330 a year.

In 2008, police and sheriff’s patrol officers earned an average salary of $51,410. Police and detective supervisors earned an average salary of $75,490. Detectives and criminal investigators earned an average of $60,910. Police and detectives often earn more than their base salaries because of payments for overtime.

Salary and Career Outlook

The highest-paying job at Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a Section Chief with a salary of $183,327 per year.