Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Bowling Green, KY is $79,360/year ($38.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.18), which stretches that salary to about $88,002 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Bowling Green?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bowling Green’s Regional Price Parity (90.18). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Bowling Green
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Bowling Green runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 22.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Bowling Green can be a reasonable trade-off for detectives and criminal investigatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for detectives and criminal investigators in metros near Bowling Green, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $84K | $90K |
| Lexington-Fayette | $85K | $91K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $102K | $99K |
| Kansas City | $91K | $99K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bowling Green, KY
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $119K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $161K | +71% | 2,980 |
| Maryland | $127K | +35% | 1,010 |
| California | $125K | +33% | 12,610 |
| Delaware | $122K | +30% | 140 |
| New Jersey | $116K | +24% | 3,080 |
| Washington | $116K | +23% | 1,850 |
| Alaska | $115K | +23% | 140 |
| Hawaii | $114K | +21% | 440 |
| Virginia | $113K | +20% | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $110K | +17% | 1,300 |
| Oregon | $107K | +15% | 520 |
| Vermont | $106K | +13% | 190 |
| Colorado | $105K | +12% | 1,930 |
| Arizona | $102K | +9% | 5,250 |
| New York | $101K | +8% | 9,600 |
| Nebraska | $101K | +7% | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | +4% | 3,370 |
| Connecticut | $95K | +2% | 940 |
| Nevada | $94K | +1% | 590 |
| West Virginia | $92K | -1% | 220 |
| Montana | $92K | -1% | 500 |
| Illinois | $91K | -3% | 3,270 |
| Wisconsin | $91K | -3% | 1,640 |
| Michigan | $91K | -3% | 2,220 |
| Texas | $91K | -3% | 18,870 |
| New Hampshire | $89K | -5% | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $88K | -6% | 360 |
| Maine | $88K | -6% | 550 |
| New Mexico | $87K | -7% | 2,020 |
| North Dakota | $82K | -12% | 420 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -13% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -14% | 1,220 |
| Minnesota | $80K | -15% | 1,970 |
| Iowa | $80K | -15% | 410 |
| Ohio | $79K | -15% | 2,140 |
| Utah | $79K | -16% | 550 |
| South Dakota | $78K | -17% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -18% | 1,860 |
| Florida | $77K | -18% | 6,440 |
| Kansas | $76K | -19% | 1,060 |
| Missouri | $76K | -19% | 1,600 |
| Idaho | $73K | -23% | 630 |
| Kentucky | $72K | -24% | 720 |
| Indiana | $70K | -25% | 1,280 |
| Alabama | $66K | -29% | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $65K | -30% | 5,070 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -33% | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -33% | 1,470 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -36% | 1,740 |
| Mississippi | $59K | -37% | 810 |
| Arkansas | $55K | -42% | 560 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
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Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bowling Green?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Bowling Green?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,585/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Bowling Green?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $79K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Bowling Green compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Bowling Green pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median is $79,360 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,080, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $162,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Bowling Green?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,087/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 22.7% 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 Bowling Green?
Bowling Green has a Regional Price Parity of 90.18 (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 $88,002 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.