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Detective / Criminal Investigator in Massachusetts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) lists 3 job classes for this work in the Massachusetts state pay plan: Special Investigator (A/B), Special Investigator (C), Special Investigator (D).

$82,938 – $137,856
state pay plan range, a year
3
classes in the state plan
$110,150
median pay in MA, all employers
1,300
workers in MA (SOC 33-3021)

Sources: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD), Massachusetts Executive Branch Bargaining Unit Job Codes and Salary Charts; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Massachusetts state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 12, 2026. These are the ranges Massachusetts sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Special Investigator (A/B)
Class EF290B
Grade 20
$3,189.91 – $4,377.43 a two weeks
$82,938 – $113,813 a year
8 steps
  • Step 1: $3,189.91 a two weeks
  • Step 2: $3,759.00 a two weeks
  • Step 3: $3,867.24 a two weeks
  • Step 4: $3,975.51 a two weeks
  • Step 5: $4,083.78 a two weeks
  • Step 6: $4,165.52 a two weeks
  • Step 7: $4,291.30 a two weeks
  • Step 8: $4,377.43 a two weeks
Special Investigator (C)
Class EF290C
Grade 22
$3,500.92 – $4,808.96 a two weeks
$91,024 – $125,033 a year
8 steps
  • Step 1: $3,500.92 a two weeks
  • Step 2: $4,128.27 a two weeks
  • Step 3: $4,247.60 a two weeks
  • Step 4: $4,367.03 a two weeks
  • Step 5: $4,486.38 a two weeks
  • Step 6: $4,576.16 a two weeks
  • Step 7: $4,714.34 a two weeks
  • Step 8: $4,808.96 a two weeks
Special Investigator (D)
Class EF290D
Grade 24
$3,860.01 – $5,302.17 a two weeks
$100,360 – $137,856 a year
8 steps
  • Step 1: $3,860.01 a two weeks
  • Step 2: $4,551.82 a two weeks
  • Step 3: $4,683.32 a two weeks
  • Step 4: $4,814.87 a two weeks
  • Step 5: $4,946.51 a two weeks
  • Step 6: $5,045.42 a two weeks
  • Step 7: $5,197.83 a two weeks
  • Step 8: $5,302.17 a two weeks

Schedule: Unit 5 COPS salary plans 52A/B (salary chart effective 2026-07-12). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD), Massachusetts Executive Branch Bargaining Unit Job Codes and Salary Charts. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Massachusetts, all employers Sourced

Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) in Massachusetts, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureMA
Workers1,300
10th percentile$76,150
Median$110,150
90th percentile$179,030
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 Massachusetts

331 police departments in Massachusetts.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Free practice tests for Massachusetts

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.

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