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Detectives and Criminal Investigators Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 12,610 Detectives and Criminal Investigators professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
12,610
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
12.61
workers
Location Quotient
5.62
vs national avg
Average Salary
$121K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.62 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Detectives and Criminal Investigators professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
12,610
National: 114,420
11.0% of national
Jobs per 1,000
12.61
National: 2.24
+462.9%
Average Salary
$121K
National: $97K
+24.8%

Top States by Detectives and Criminal Investigators Employment

#1
18,870
18,870
employed
#2
12,610
12,610
employed
#3
9,600
9,600
employed
#4
6,440
6,440
employed
#5
5,250
5,250
employed
#6
5,070
5,070
employed
#7
3,370
3,370
employed
#8
3,360
3,360
employed
#9
3,270
3,270
employed
#10
3,180
3,180
employed

What Does a Detectives and Criminal Investigators Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California is $121,530. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 12,610 Detectives and Criminal Investigators professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Detectives and Criminal Investigators in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs (LQ: 5.62). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California?

The average (mean) salary for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California is $121530/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Detectives and Criminal Investigators professionals?

The top state for Detectives and Criminal Investigators employment is Texas with 18,870 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

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Top Colleges in California

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Detectives and Criminal Investigators Employment in Other States

Compare Detectives and Criminal Investigators labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Detectives and Criminal Investigators & California Resources

Drill deeper into Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 333021) in California.

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