Career Atlas USA

Best States for Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1District of Columbia96.7 / 100
  2. 2Arizona85 / 100
  3. 3Virginia83.5 / 100
  4. 4California81.1 / 100
  5. 5Texas78.9 / 100
  6. 6New Mexico78.1 / 100
  7. 7New York77.3 / 100
  8. 8New Jersey77.2 / 100
  9. 9Montana69.6 / 100
  10. 10Colorado65.6 / 100
  11. 11Hawaii63.9 / 100
  12. 12North Dakota62.5 / 100
  13. 13Pennsylvania59.3 / 100
  14. 14Maine58.7 / 100
  15. 15Georgia58.1 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).