Investigator 3 pay range
State of Washington · class code 427R
- Class code
- 427R
- Salary range
- 60
- Pay unit
- Year
- Alternate ranges
- 2
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Investigator 3 is $71,136 to $100,488 per year, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 427R.
- The plan defines 2 alternate ranges for this class, so the rate depends on which bargaining unit covers the position.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 60 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $71,136 | $72,900 | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 | $82,440 | $84,528 | $86,688 | $88,788 | $91,104 | $93,288 | $95,676 |
| Monthly | $5,928 | $6,075 | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 | $6,870 | $7,044 | $7,224 | $7,399 | $7,592 | $7,774 | $7,973 |
| Hourly | $34.07 | $34.91 | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 | $39.48 | $40.48 | $41.52 | $42.52 | $43.63 | $44.68 | $45.82 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Alternate ranges
| Bargaining unit | Minimum | Maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| As listed | $71,136 | $95,676 | per year |
| Teamsters | $74,748 | $100,488 | per year |
The listing prints a separate range for classes covered by a bargaining agreement. Which one applies depends on the employee's unit.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications.
What the state says the job is
Conducts highly complex and difficult investigations relating to sensitive and controversial cases; or, supervises investigative staff; or, acts as the statewide training expert for the investigation program.
Examples of the work
Writes administrative and judicial subpoenas, develops probable cause, writes search warrant affidavits and participates in search warrant executions; participates in surveillance activities with multiple jurisdictions; Supervises and instructs Investigators in reviewing case histories, interviewing and questioning witnesses to establish facts, gathering, preserving and examining evidence, and preparing detailed and comprehensive reports; Assigns claims for investigations and maintains assignment and production records; Reviews completed reports for thoroughness and accuracy, clarity and conciseness, and compliance with established policy and procedures; evaluates performance of investigator ...
Minimum qualifications
Two years of experience as an Investigator 2. OR Five years of experience as an investigator with a criminal justice government agency or private organization, or other directly allied field, three years must include field experience. Note: Two years of related college-level course work may be substituted for one year of experience.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.
Nearby classes in Washington
Investigator 3 in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $17.68 | $31.73 | $36,779 to $66,009 |
| Iowa | $59,010 | $89,835 | $59,010 to $89,835 |
| New York | $86,681 | $109,650 | $86,681 to $109,650 |
Each state publishes its own range for a classification with this exact title. Duties, grade structures and bargaining units differ between states, so read each class page before comparing.