How Much Does a Police Detective Make Per Year? Average Police Detective Salary?

The average annual salary of a police detective is $62,000. Police detectives work for law enforcement and the government. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and St Louis are the cities that offer the highest salaries for police detectives. A police detective performs several jobs relating to criminal investigation. They collect evidence from the crime scene, classify fingerprints and photograph evidence for use in court cases. A police detective may also notify a medical examiner. They investigate alleged criminal violations of laws to determine the evidence available for recommending prosecution. Police detectives also prepare and serve search warrants.