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What does a Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary really buy you in Maryland?
Maryland is 5.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Maryland's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 105.0, meaning prices are 5.0% higher the national average. A Detectives and Criminal Investigators earning $126,730 in Maryland has the equivalent purchasing power of $120,695 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maryland's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $71,200 | $67,809 | $-3,390 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $93,230 | $88,790 | $-4,439 |
| Median (P50) | $126,730 | $120,695 | $-6,034 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $166,230 | $158,314 | $-7,915 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $188,700 | $179,714 | $-8,985 |
While $126,730 sounds high, Maryland's elevated cost of living erases 5% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $120,695. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Maryland's RPP of 105.0 puts it 5.0% above the national baseline cost of living. A Detectives and Criminal Investigators needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Maryland's RPP, the $126,730 median salary translates to $120,695 in real terms — a 4.8% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Detectives and Criminal Investigators.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Maryland places #3 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Maryland ranks #3 out of 51 states for Detectives and Criminal Investigators after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Detectives and Criminal Investigators take-home pay in Maryland after taxes →
A Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Maryland earns a median salary of $126,730 per year. After adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (RPP=105.0), the real purchasing power is $120,695 — a -4.8% difference.
Maryland's cost of living is 5.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Maryland: $126,730 x (100 / 105.0) = $120,695. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Detectives and Criminal Investigators's nominal salary of $126,730 in Maryland has 4.8% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $120,695. However, Maryland may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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