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Job title · Pennsylvania

Detective / Criminal Investigator in Pennsylvania

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration lists 7 job classes for this work in the Pennsylvania state pay plan: Special Investigator Trainee, Special Agent A, OSIG, Special Investigator 1–3, +2 more.

$46,827 – $111,956
state pay plan range, a year
7
classes in the state plan
$97,580
median pay in PA, all employers
3,370
workers in PA (SOC 33-3021)

Sources: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Classification and Pay Plan (job classes and pay schedules); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pennsylvania state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Pennsylvania sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Special Investigator Trainee
Class 70800 · class description
Grade ST05 · 37½ HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$46,827 – $70,592 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $46,827 a year
  • Level 02: $47,863 a year
  • Level 03: $48,802 a year
  • Level 04: $49,819 a year
  • Level 05: $50,836 a year
  • Level 06: $51,932 a year
  • Level 07: $53,008 a year
  • Level 08: $54,162 a year
  • Level 09: $55,316 a year
  • Level 10: $56,607 a year
  • Level 11: $57,937 a year
  • Level 12: $59,149 a year
  • Level 13: $60,538 a year
  • Level 14: $61,927 a year
  • Level 15: $63,257 a year
  • Level 16: $64,607 a year
  • Level 17: $66,074 a year
  • Level 18: $67,658 a year
  • Level 19: $69,086 a year
  • Level 20: $70,592 a year
Grade ST05 · 40 HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$49,948 – $75,298 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $49,948 a year
  • Level 02: $51,054 a year
  • Level 03: $52,056 a year
  • Level 04: $53,141 a year
  • Level 05: $54,226 a year
  • Level 06: $55,394 a year
  • Level 07: $56,541 a year
  • Level 08: $57,772 a year
  • Level 09: $59,003 a year
  • Level 10: $60,380 a year
  • Level 11: $61,799 a year
  • Level 12: $63,093 a year
  • Level 13: $64,574 a year
  • Level 14: $66,055 a year
  • Level 15: $67,474 a year
  • Level 16: $68,914 a year
  • Level 17: $70,479 a year
  • Level 18: $72,169 a year
  • Level 19: $73,692 a year
  • Level 20: $75,298 a year
Special Agent A, OSIG
Class 70855 · class description
Grade ST06 · 37½ HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$53,008 – $80,646 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $53,008 a year
  • Level 02: $54,162 a year
  • Level 03: $55,316 a year
  • Level 04: $56,607 a year
  • Level 05: $57,937 a year
  • Level 06: $59,149 a year
  • Level 07: $60,538 a year
  • Level 08: $61,927 a year
  • Level 09: $63,257 a year
  • Level 10: $64,607 a year
  • Level 11: $66,074 a year
  • Level 12: $67,658 a year
  • Level 13: $69,086 a year
  • Level 14: $70,592 a year
  • Level 15: $72,255 a year
  • Level 16: $73,859 a year
  • Level 17: $75,462 a year
  • Level 18: $77,164 a year
  • Level 19: $78,925 a year
  • Level 20: $80,646 a year
Grade ST06 · 40 HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$56,541 – $86,022 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $56,541 a year
  • Level 02: $57,772 a year
  • Level 03: $59,003 a year
  • Level 04: $60,380 a year
  • Level 05: $61,799 a year
  • Level 06: $63,093 a year
  • Level 07: $64,574 a year
  • Level 08: $66,055 a year
  • Level 09: $67,474 a year
  • Level 10: $68,914 a year
  • Level 11: $70,479 a year
  • Level 12: $72,169 a year
  • Level 13: $73,692 a year
  • Level 14: $75,298 a year
  • Level 15: $77,072 a year
  • Level 16: $78,782 a year
  • Level 17: $80,493 a year
  • Level 18: $82,308 a year
  • Level 19: $84,186 a year
  • Level 20: $86,022 a year
Special Investigator 1
Class 70810 · class description
Grade ST06 · 37½ HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$53,008 – $80,646 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $53,008 a year
  • Level 02: $54,162 a year
  • Level 03: $55,316 a year
  • Level 04: $56,607 a year
  • Level 05: $57,937 a year
  • Level 06: $59,149 a year
  • Level 07: $60,538 a year
  • Level 08: $61,927 a year
  • Level 09: $63,257 a year
  • Level 10: $64,607 a year
  • Level 11: $66,074 a year
  • Level 12: $67,658 a year
  • Level 13: $69,086 a year
  • Level 14: $70,592 a year
  • Level 15: $72,255 a year
  • Level 16: $73,859 a year
  • Level 17: $75,462 a year
  • Level 18: $77,164 a year
  • Level 19: $78,925 a year
  • Level 20: $80,646 a year
Grade ST06 · 40 HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$56,541 – $86,022 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $56,541 a year
  • Level 02: $57,772 a year
  • Level 03: $59,003 a year
  • Level 04: $60,380 a year
  • Level 05: $61,799 a year
  • Level 06: $63,093 a year
  • Level 07: $64,574 a year
  • Level 08: $66,055 a year
  • Level 09: $67,474 a year
  • Level 10: $68,914 a year
  • Level 11: $70,479 a year
  • Level 12: $72,169 a year
  • Level 13: $73,692 a year
  • Level 14: $75,298 a year
  • Level 15: $77,072 a year
  • Level 16: $78,782 a year
  • Level 17: $80,493 a year
  • Level 18: $82,308 a year
  • Level 19: $84,186 a year
  • Level 20: $86,022 a year
Special Investigator 1, OSIG
Class 70833 · class description
Grade ST06 · 37½ HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$53,008 – $80,646 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $53,008 a year
  • Level 02: $54,162 a year
  • Level 03: $55,316 a year
  • Level 04: $56,607 a year
  • Level 05: $57,937 a year
  • Level 06: $59,149 a year
  • Level 07: $60,538 a year
  • Level 08: $61,927 a year
  • Level 09: $63,257 a year
  • Level 10: $64,607 a year
  • Level 11: $66,074 a year
  • Level 12: $67,658 a year
  • Level 13: $69,086 a year
  • Level 14: $70,592 a year
  • Level 15: $72,255 a year
  • Level 16: $73,859 a year
  • Level 17: $75,462 a year
  • Level 18: $77,164 a year
  • Level 19: $78,925 a year
  • Level 20: $80,646 a year
Grade ST06 · 40 HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$56,541 – $86,022 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $56,541 a year
  • Level 02: $57,772 a year
  • Level 03: $59,003 a year
  • Level 04: $60,380 a year
  • Level 05: $61,799 a year
  • Level 06: $63,093 a year
  • Level 07: $64,574 a year
  • Level 08: $66,055 a year
  • Level 09: $67,474 a year
  • Level 10: $68,914 a year
  • Level 11: $70,479 a year
  • Level 12: $72,169 a year
  • Level 13: $73,692 a year
  • Level 14: $75,298 a year
  • Level 15: $77,072 a year
  • Level 16: $78,782 a year
  • Level 17: $80,493 a year
  • Level 18: $82,308 a year
  • Level 19: $84,186 a year
  • Level 20: $86,022 a year
Special Investigator 2
Class 70820 · class description
Grade ST07 · 37½ HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$60,538 – $92,010 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $60,538 a year
  • Level 02: $61,927 a year
  • Level 03: $63,257 a year
  • Level 04: $64,607 a year
  • Level 05: $66,074 a year
  • Level 06: $67,658 a year
  • Level 07: $69,086 a year
  • Level 08: $70,592 a year
  • Level 09: $72,255 a year
  • Level 10: $73,859 a year
  • Level 11: $75,462 a year
  • Level 12: $77,164 a year
  • Level 13: $78,925 a year
  • Level 14: $80,646 a year
  • Level 15: $82,465 a year
  • Level 16: $84,264 a year
  • Level 17: $86,162 a year
  • Level 18: $88,020 a year
  • Level 19: $89,996 a year
  • Level 20: $92,010 a year
Grade ST07 · 40 HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$64,574 – $98,144 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $64,574 a year
  • Level 02: $66,055 a year
  • Level 03: $67,474 a year
  • Level 04: $68,914 a year
  • Level 05: $70,479 a year
  • Level 06: $72,169 a year
  • Level 07: $73,692 a year
  • Level 08: $75,298 a year
  • Level 09: $77,072 a year
  • Level 10: $78,782 a year
  • Level 11: $80,493 a year
  • Level 12: $82,308 a year
  • Level 13: $84,186 a year
  • Level 14: $86,022 a year
  • Level 15: $87,963 a year
  • Level 16: $89,882 a year
  • Level 17: $91,906 a year
  • Level 18: $93,888 a year
  • Level 19: $95,995 a year
  • Level 20: $98,144 a year
Special Investigator 2, OSIG
Class 70834 · class description
Grade ST07 · 37½ HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$60,538 – $92,010 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $60,538 a year
  • Level 02: $61,927 a year
  • Level 03: $63,257 a year
  • Level 04: $64,607 a year
  • Level 05: $66,074 a year
  • Level 06: $67,658 a year
  • Level 07: $69,086 a year
  • Level 08: $70,592 a year
  • Level 09: $72,255 a year
  • Level 10: $73,859 a year
  • Level 11: $75,462 a year
  • Level 12: $77,164 a year
  • Level 13: $78,925 a year
  • Level 14: $80,646 a year
  • Level 15: $82,465 a year
  • Level 16: $84,264 a year
  • Level 17: $86,162 a year
  • Level 18: $88,020 a year
  • Level 19: $89,996 a year
  • Level 20: $92,010 a year
Grade ST07 · 40 HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$64,574 – $98,144 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $64,574 a year
  • Level 02: $66,055 a year
  • Level 03: $67,474 a year
  • Level 04: $68,914 a year
  • Level 05: $70,479 a year
  • Level 06: $72,169 a year
  • Level 07: $73,692 a year
  • Level 08: $75,298 a year
  • Level 09: $77,072 a year
  • Level 10: $78,782 a year
  • Level 11: $80,493 a year
  • Level 12: $82,308 a year
  • Level 13: $84,186 a year
  • Level 14: $86,022 a year
  • Level 15: $87,963 a year
  • Level 16: $89,882 a year
  • Level 17: $91,906 a year
  • Level 18: $93,888 a year
  • Level 19: $95,995 a year
  • Level 20: $98,144 a year
Special Investigator 3
Class 70830 · class description
Grade ST08 · 37½ HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$69,086 – $104,959 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $69,086 a year
  • Level 02: $70,592 a year
  • Level 03: $72,255 a year
  • Level 04: $73,859 a year
  • Level 05: $75,462 a year
  • Level 06: $77,164 a year
  • Level 07: $78,925 a year
  • Level 08: $80,646 a year
  • Level 09: $82,465 a year
  • Level 10: $84,264 a year
  • Level 11: $86,162 a year
  • Level 12: $88,020 a year
  • Level 13: $89,996 a year
  • Level 14: $92,010 a year
  • Level 15: $94,064 a year
  • Level 16: $96,118 a year
  • Level 17: $98,172 a year
  • Level 18: $100,480 a year
  • Level 19: $102,788 a year
  • Level 20: $104,959 a year
Grade ST08 · 40 HOUR STANDARD PAY SCHEDULE (PAY SCALE TYPE ST)
$73,692 – $111,956 a year
20 steps
  • Level 01: $73,692 a year
  • Level 02: $75,298 a year
  • Level 03: $77,072 a year
  • Level 04: $78,782 a year
  • Level 05: $80,493 a year
  • Level 06: $82,308 a year
  • Level 07: $84,186 a year
  • Level 08: $86,022 a year
  • Level 09: $87,963 a year
  • Level 10: $89,882 a year
  • Level 11: $91,906 a year
  • Level 12: $93,888 a year
  • Level 13: $95,995 a year
  • Level 14: $98,144 a year
  • Level 15: $100,335 a year
  • Level 16: $102,526 a year
  • Level 17: $104,716 a year
  • Level 18: $107,178 a year
  • Level 19: $109,640 a year
  • Level 20: $111,956 a year

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 Pennsylvania, Office of Administration, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Classification and Pay Plan (job classes and pay schedules). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Pennsylvania, all employers Sourced

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

MeasurePA
Workers3,370
10th percentile$63,770
Median$97,580
90th percentile$154,360
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 Pennsylvania

912 police departments in Pennsylvania.

42 sheriff's offices in Pennsylvania.

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

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Detective / Criminal Investigator page.

Detective / Criminal Investigator in other states

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