Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Arkansas is $54,500/year ($26.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $62,186 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Arkansas?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Arkansas runs about 42% below the U.S. median of $94K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $104K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Arkansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $61K | +12% | 100 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $56K | +3% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,483/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 42% below the national median — $55K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Arkansas pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -42%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Arkansas?
The median is $54,500 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,380, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $144,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,656/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a detectives and criminal investigators salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median detectives and criminal investigators salary is worth about $62,186 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do detectives and criminal investigators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.