Sources: Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation, Georgia State Salary Plans (SWD and LAW) with Job Profiles — September 2026; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Georgia state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective September 17, 2025. These are the ranges Georgia sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Criminal Investigator 1 Class PSP090 Grade LI | $47,221 – $75,193 a year |
| Criminal Investigator 1 Class PST246 Grade LI | $47,221 – $75,193 a year |
| Criminal Investigator 1 Non Exempt Class PSP090NE Grade LI | $47,221 – $75,193 a year |
| Criminal Investigator 1 Non Exempt Class PST246NE Grade LI | $47,221 – $75,193 a year |
| Criminal Investigator 2 Class PSP091 Grade LJ | $49,925 – $79,868 a year |
| Criminal Investigator 2 Non Exempt Class PSP091NE Grade LJ | $49,925 – $79,868 a year |
| Special Agent 1 Class PSP100 Grade LJ | $49,925 – $79,868 a year |
| Special Agent 1 Non Exempt Class PSP100NE Grade LJ | $49,925 – $79,868 a year |
| Criminal Investigator 3 Class PSP092 Grade LK | $53,877 – $86,784 a year |
| Criminal Investigator 3 Non Exempt Class PSP092NE Grade LK | $53,877 – $86,784 a year |
| Special Agent 2 Class PSP101 Grade LL | $58,263 – $94,460 a year |
| Special Agent 2 Non Exempt Class PSP101NE Grade LL | $58,263 – $94,460 a year |
| Special Agent 3 Class PSP102 Grade LN | $68,536 – $112,439 a year |
| Special Agent 3 Non Exempt Class PSP102NE Grade LN | $68,536 – $112,439 a year |
| Special Agent 4 Class PSP103 Grade LO | $75,081 – $123,891 a year |
| Special Agent 4 Non Exempt Class PSP103NE Grade LO | $75,081 – $123,891 a year |
Schedule: Georgia Law Enforcement Salary Plan (LAW), effective September 17, 2025. Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation, Georgia State Salary Plans (SWD and LAW) with Job Profiles — September 2026. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Georgia, all employers Sourced
Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) in Georgia, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | GA |
|---|---|
| Workers | 5,070 |
| 10th percentile | $46,790 |
| Median | $65,430 |
| 90th percentile | $149,030 |
| National median, government employers | $93,790 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Employers in Georgia
356 police departments in Georgia.
158 sheriff's offices in Georgia.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Georgia
AFOSI Special Agent Selection Cognitive Exam (Air Force Office of Special Investigations)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep- Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent Test (DSSAT)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Entrance ExamEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Test Battery (SATB)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NCIS Special Agent (1811) Selection Exam — Phase I Cognitive/Logical ReasoningEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Detective / Criminal Investigator page.