USTexas salary guideStatewide BLS data
Updated for 2026

Detective Supervisor Salary in Texas (2026)

The Detective Supervisor salary in Texas for 2026 is shown as a modeled statewide benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. Each section helps readers understand where this career pays best across the state and how the projected benchmark compares with metro markets. This Detectives Supervisors salary guide focuses on investigative team leadership and detective-unit oversight pay, while using the same source occupation record behind the broader police supervision track.

Official BLS baseline: 2024Modeled statewide salary guide5,810 employment estimate12 min read
Average Salary
$122K
state median
Entry Level
$72.9K
starting range
Senior Level
$138K
upper band
Top Range
$148K
90th percentile
Hourly Rate
$53
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·   Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
Also searched as Detective Supervisor Salary.
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Detective Supervisor Salary Overview in Texas

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Detective Supervisor pay in Texas at about $121,742 per year. On the latest official statewide BLS baseline, the range runs from about $65,890.0 at the lower end to $147,910 for top earners.

This guide covers the full statewide Detective Supervisor salary picture first, then compares metro markets inside Texas where BLS data is available — making it useful for candidates who want a broader view beyond any single city.

Texas Detective Supervisor Salary vs the U.S. Average

The statewide median for Detective Supervisor roles in Texas is $121,742, compared with a U.S. median of $105,980. That gap of +15% helps readers see whether this state sits in a premium salary market, a near-national market, or a lower-cost salary market relative to the rest of the country.

BenchmarkTexasUnited StatesDifference
Projected annual salary$121,742$105,980+15% vs U.S.
Entry-level benchmark$94,280.0$69,042.0+37% vs U.S.
Senior-level benchmark$137,708$147,710-7% vs U.S.
Top baseline wage range$147,910$165,050-10% vs U.S.
Projected hourly equivalent$53$515,810 state jobs
How to read the state premium Austin, TX is currently the strongest-paying metro in this state, which helps explain how local employer concentration pushes the state average. Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service is the strongest-paying industry benchmark currently available.

Detective Supervisor Salary by Experience Level in Texas

Statewide experience bands help show how much of the salary story comes from growing responsibility, not location alone. Even inside one state, the distance between entry-level and senior pay can be wide enough to change how attractive the long-term path looks.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$94.3K
$59/hr median equivalent
$72.9K - $122K
Lower percentile wages modeled into early-career pay.
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$122K
$59/hr median equivalent
$94.3K - $138K
Independent delivery and broader scope become the norm.
Senior
6-10 years
$138K
$59/hr median equivalent
$122K - $164K
Higher salaries usually reflect stronger ownership and specialization.
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$164K
$59/hr median equivalent
$138K - $200K
Leadership pay reflects broader responsibility and top-end wage ranges.
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs U.S.
Entry-Level Detective Supervisor0-2 years$94,280.0$72,904.0 - $121,742-11% vs U.S.
Mid-Level Detective Supervisor3-5 years$121,742$94,280.0 - $137,708+15% vs U.S.
Senior Detective Supervisor6-10 years$137,708$121,742 - $163,654+30% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Detective Supervisor10+ years$163,654$137,708 - $199,658+54% vs U.S.
State experience modelThese experience bands are modeled from local wage percentiles because BLS publishes wage distributions, not direct entry, mid, senior, or lead labels.
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Detective Supervisor Salary by City in Texas

City-level differences inside Texas can be large. Stronger salary metro areas often combine dense employers, specialized industries, and stronger competition for experienced Detective Supervisor talent.

City / MetroProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs StateMarket Signal
Austin, TX$127,860$89,850.0 - $151,340+5% vs U.S.Competitive metro
Dallas, TX$121,470$79,400.0 - $147,810Near nationalValue market
El Paso, TX$117,200$78,110.0 - $178,190-4% vs U.S.Value market
Midland, TX$115,220$75,250.0 - $146,130-5% vs U.S.Value market
Tyler, TX$110,820$74,340.0 - $162,930-9% vs U.S.Value market
Laredo, TX$110,640$66,570.0 - $190,360-9% vs U.S.Value market
Houston, TX$110,030$77,950.0 - $133,900-10% vs U.S.Value market
Lubbock, TX$107,550$55,960.0 - $142,750-12% vs U.S.Value market

Detective Supervisor Salary by Industry in Texas

Industry mix is one of the strongest drivers behind pay differences inside a state. Stronger salary industry rows usually reflect employers that place the role closer to revenue, specialized operations, or hard-to-source talent.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$107,080$62,550.0 - $165,850Stronger salary
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$106,470$62,450.0 - $165,440Stronger salary
Transportation and Warehousing$97,660.0$85,280.0 - $139,840Stronger salary
Educational Services$86,970.0$57,390.0 - $130,480Competitive
Health Care and Social Assistance$84,970.0$64,200.0 - $119,140Competitive

Entry-Level Detective Supervisor Salary in Texas

Entry-level pay in Texas for detective supervisor usually starts near the lower statewide wage band, then rises as candidates move from supervised work into independent delivery. The first major salary jump often comes from handling broader scope, changing employers, or moving into stronger local metro markets.

Starting benchmark
$94.3K
$72.9K - $122K
Typical early-career compensation in this state, modeled from the lower end of the local wage distribution.
Promotion target
$122K
+29.1% vs entry median
The move into reliable independent delivery is usually the first real comp inflection point.
Preparation pathJob Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Typical education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. Training signal: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
StageTypical SalaryTimelineKey Signal
Intern / trainee$62.0K - $80.2KPre-full-timeFoundational proof
Entry-level$94,280.00-2 yearsStructured support and learning
Promotion-ready junior$102K - $115K12-24 monthsIndependent delivery
Mid-level target$121,74218-30 monthsBroader ownership
Entry estimateEntry-level Detective Supervisor pay in Texas is modeled around $94,280.0using the lower state wage percentiles.
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Public vs Private-Sector Pay in Texas

The state salary dataset here does not label every wage row by public or private ownership, so this section models the comparison from statewide salary levels and the industry spread visible in the data. It is best read as pay guidance, not as a direct government-vs-private wage census.

Employer TypeEstimated SalaryBest MatchHow It Is Modeled
Public / institutional style$107,080Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal ServiceAnchored to lower-variance industry rows and the statewide baseline
Private-market baseline$121,742Texas commercial employersUses the core statewide median as the middle market
Top private-sector path$97,660.0Transportation and WarehousingAnchored to the strongest visible industry pay rows
Interpretation notePrivate-sector upside is usually strongest where Detective Supervisor work is closer to revenue, specialized operations, or employer competition. Institutional paths often trade some upside for steadier pay bands and clearer progression.

Remote vs Onsite Detective Supervisor Pay in Texas

Remote and hybrid work can change the salary story for a state page because the employer market may be broader than the worker’s home location. Where direct remote comp data is available, it is shown below; otherwise the fallback rows use the local salary benchmark as the base case.

Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$121,742Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$125,394Metro dependentTexas employersMedium
Onsite$122,959Location dependentLocal teams and officesLower

The best remote comparison is total pay after commute, housing pressure, and access to stronger employer markets. A lower-cost metro paired with national hiring access can outperform a higher nominal local salary.

Cost of Living for Detective Supervisor Salary in Texas

A state salary should be read alongside rent, taxes, commuting, and the mix of high-cost and lower-cost metro areas inside the state. The same Detective Supervisor salary can feel very different across Texas.

MarketProjected SalaryMonthlyVs StateModeled Cost Signal
Austin, TX$127,860$10.7K+5% vs U.S.Balanced metro
Dallas, TX$121,470$10.1KNear nationalLower-cost signal
El Paso, TX$117,200$9.8K-4% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Midland, TX$115,220$9.6K-5% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Tyler, TX$110,820$9.2K-9% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Laredo, TX$110,640$9.2K-9% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Purchasing-power reminder Austin, TX sets the top in-state pay benchmark, while San Antonio, TX shows how lower salary markets may come with a lighter local cost burden.

Leading Salary Cities in Texas

Statewide averages flatten the most important local differences. This ranking brings those differences back into view by showing which cities and metros inside Texas create the strongest salary benchmarks for this role.

City / MetroProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs State
Austin, TX$127,860$89,850.0 - $151,340+5% vs U.S.
Dallas, TX$121,470$79,400.0 - $147,810Near national
El Paso, TX$117,200$78,110.0 - $178,190-4% vs U.S.
Midland, TX$115,220$75,250.0 - $146,130-5% vs U.S.
Tyler, TX$110,820$74,340.0 - $162,930-9% vs U.S.
Laredo, TX$110,640$66,570.0 - $190,360-9% vs U.S.
Houston, TX$110,030$77,950.0 - $133,900-10% vs U.S.
Lubbock, TX$107,550$55,960.0 - $142,750-12% vs U.S.
Amarillo, TX$104,240$73,110.0 - $117,270-14% vs U.S.
San Antonio, TX$103,950$66,020.0 - $165,260-15% vs U.S.

Detective Supervisor Demand Outlook in Texas

Career growth inside Texas is best read through two lenses: the local salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The salary ladder shows how compensation expands with responsibility, while the outlook data shows whether employers are likely to keep competing for talent.

1
Intern / Trainee
$61.5K - $82.7K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
2
Junior
$76.3K - $101K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
3
Mid Level
$95.4K - $119K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
4
Senior
$115K - $148K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
5
Lead
$136K - $172K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
6
Principal / Architect
$159K - $217K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by 2.9% from 2024 to 2034.
About averageAnnual openings: 10.9 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment160.8k → 165.4k
Typical educationUsually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Related experienceSome occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
State market anchor5,810 jobs with a median of $121,742

Factors That Affect Detective Supervisor Salary in Texas

State salary is shaped by more than the job title. Metro concentration, local industry strength, training expectations, and the size of the in-state employer market all influence where pay ultimately settles.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.
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How to Increase Your Detective Supervisor Salary in Texas

Salary growth tends to come fastest when candidates combine stronger proof of impact, better-paying market selection, and negotiation with current state and U.S. benchmarks in hand.

MoveWhy It HelpsTimelineAvg. Salary Impact
Benchmark against stronger marketsCompare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.1-3 months+15-30%
Build a visible specializationPrioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.3-9 months$14.6K - $34.1K
Target higher-paying industriesUse industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.2-6 months$9.7K - $21.9K
Fastest practical liftThe quickest salary gains often come from combining stronger proof, a better-paying metro or industry target, and a well-benchmarked negotiation conversation.

Detective Supervisor Salary in Texas: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the statewide benchmark with city differences, experience bands, and demand signals. They are here to clear up the parts of the salary picture that still feel uncertain after the main sections.

These FAQs answer common questions about detective supervisor salary, investigative leadership pay, and how detective supervision compares with police supervision roles, including salary range, location differences, experience bands, and what changes pay.

What is the average First-line Supervisors Of Police & Detectives salary?
The latest national baseline for First-line Supervisors Of Police & Detectives is about $106,000 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level First-line Supervisors Of Police & Detectives salary?
Entry-level estimates for First-line Supervisors Of Police & Detectives are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $62,400 per year nationally.
How much can senior First-line Supervisors Of Police & Detectives professionals earn?
Senior First-line Supervisors Of Police & Detectives estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $133,500 per year nationally.
Does location affect First-line Supervisors Of Police & Detectives salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for First-line Supervisors Of Police & Detectives salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
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Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Career: medium · City: official · Compare: medium · Country: official
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