Prevailing Wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Prevailing wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your offer is for a Criminal Investigator role at a federal agency or a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) position with a local department, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly by city.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level investigators with limited experience, typically performing routine case assignments under close supervision. Candidates are building foundational skills and have not yet developed independent judgment for complex investigations. Most hold a relevant degree or equivalent qualifying credential.
Level 2 applies to qualified investigators who work independently on standard cases with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Detectives and Criminal Investigators, reflecting the majority of sponsored positions that require practical experience but not a supervisory or senior specialist designation.
Level 3 covers experienced investigators handling complex or sensitive cases with significant autonomy. These professionals typically interpret findings, coordinate across agencies or units, and may mentor junior staff. Employers filing at this level are seeking candidates with a demonstrable record of independent case work.
Level 4 applies to fully competent investigators in senior or lead roles, often setting investigative strategy, managing multi-jurisdictional cases, or serving as subject-matter experts. Filings at this level are common for senior federal positions and specialized units requiring the highest degree of independent judgment.
Prevailing Wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Detectives and Criminal Investigators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Verify your title maps to SOC 33-3021
Job titles like Fugitive Investigator or Crime Scene Investigator can be filed under adjacent SOC codes with different wage floors. Confirm your employer's LCA lists SOC 33-3021 so your offer is benchmarked against the correct Detectives and Criminal Investigators prevailing wage.
Expect Level 2 filings in most sponsored roles
Federal agencies and large municipal departments almost universally file at Level 2 for mid-career investigators. If your offer letter references independent casework without supervisory duties, a Level 1 filing likely undervalues your position and warrants a conversation with HR.
Check Washington DC and San Jose against low-paying metros
The prevailing wage floor for this occupation varies dramatically by worksite. The DC metro and San Jose set wages that can exceed double the floors in metros like Valdosta or Joplin. Your LCA worksite city, not your home address, determines which floor applies.
Find employers sponsoring investigators on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a verified history of sponsoring Detectives and Criminal Investigators, including federal contractors and private security firms. Filtering by visa type and role lets you target organizations with active sponsorship track records for this occupation.
Jobs for Detectives and Criminal Investigators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 33-3021.00 alongside Detectives and Criminal Investigators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Prevailing Wage
Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Prevailing Wage
Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) positions fall under SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Criminal Investigator Prevailing Wage
Criminal Investigator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Criminal Investigator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Detective Prevailing Wage
Detective Prevailing Wage
Detective is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Fugitive Detective Prevailing Wage
Fugitive Detective Prevailing Wage
Fugitive Detective positions fall under SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Fugitive Investigator Prevailing Wage
Fugitive Investigator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fugitive Investigator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Investigator Prevailing Wage
Investigator Prevailing Wage
Investigator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Narcotics Detective Prevailing Wage
Narcotics Detective Prevailing Wage
Narcotics Detective positions fall under SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Narcotics Investigator Prevailing Wage
Narcotics Investigator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Narcotics Investigator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Police Detective Prevailing Wage
Police Detective Prevailing Wage
Police Detective is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Special Agent Prevailing Wage
Special Agent Prevailing Wage
Special Agent positions fall under SOC 33-3021.00 (Detectives and Criminal Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for each SOC occupation. For SOC 33-3021, OFLC derives four wage levels from the regional wage distribution, with Level 1 near the 17th percentile and Level 4 near the 67th percentile. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with routine independent work, Level 3 is experienced with complex case autonomy, and Level 4 is fully competent in senior or lead capacity. Your level should match the actual job duties on the LCA, not just the job title. If your responsibilities align with Level 3 but your employer files at Level 1, the wage floor is artificially low and the LCA may face scrutiny.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same investigator role vary so much by city?
OFLC calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions in each metropolitan area. The LCA rules require employers to use the wage for the worksite listed on the petition, not the company's headquarters. Dense federal employment markets like Washington DC push wages significantly higher than smaller metros, which is why an identical Criminal Investigator title can carry very different wage floors depending on where the position is physically located.
What happens if an employer's offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An offer below the DOL prevailing wage for the filed wage level creates a compliance problem for the employer, not just a negotiation issue for you. USCIS can deny the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition if the offered wage on the LCA does not meet the prevailing wage floor. For green card PERM cases, DOL can reject the application outright. Employers are legally required to pay at least the prevailing wage for the duration of the sponsored worker's employment.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 33-3021 in any metropolitan area. Enter the occupation code and the worksite city or county to retrieve the four wage levels. Cross-check the wage your employer lists on the LCA against the OFLC Wage Search result for your specific worksite. Migrate Mate can also show you which employers have sponsored investigators historically, helping you identify companies with a real track record before you evaluate an offer.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Detectives and Criminal Investigators right now.
Search Jobs for this role