Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $79,640/year ($38.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $86,848 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 25.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $126K | +34% | 960 |
| California | $122K | +31% | 11,900 |
| Alaska | $121K | +29% | 130 |
| Washington | $116K | +24% | 1,680 |
| New Jersey | $114K | +22% | 3,000 |
| Hawaii | $112K | +20% | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $111K | +19% | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $110K | +18% | 3,170 |
| Oregon | $107K | +15% | 470 |
| Vermont | $104K | +11% | 210 |
| New York | $103K | +10% | 9,410 |
| Arizona | $103K | +10% | 5,220 |
| Nebraska | $99K | +6% | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $99K | +6% | 3,390 |
| Montana | $96K | +2% | 470 |
| Nevada | $96K | +2% | 580 |
| Connecticut | $95K | +2% | 890 |
| Wisconsin | $93K | -1% | 1,480 |
| Michigan | $93K | -1% | 2,050 |
| West Virginia | $91K | -3% | 210 |
| New Hampshire | $90K | -4% | 410 |
| Texas | $90K | -4% | 18,020 |
| Illinois | $90K | -4% | 3,100 |
| Rhode Island | $89K | -5% | 440 |
| Delaware | $88K | -6% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $87K | -7% | 2,000 |
| North Dakota | $85K | -10% | 420 |
| Minnesota | $82K | -12% | 1,770 |
| Maine | $81K | -14% | 540 |
| Wyoming | $80K | -14% | 170 |
| Missouri | $79K | -16% | 1,440 |
| Florida | $78K | -16% | 6,310 |
| Ohio | $78K | -17% | 2,120 |
| Idaho | $77K | -17% | 520 |
| South Dakota | $77K | -17% | 230 |
| Oklahoma | $77K | -17% | 1,280 |
| Kentucky | $77K | -17% | 700 |
| Iowa | $77K | -17% | 380 |
| Indiana | $75K | -20% | 1,240 |
| Utah | $75K | -20% | 560 |
| Tennessee | $73K | -22% | 1,960 |
| Kansas | $68K | -27% | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $66K | -29% | 1,290 |
| Georgia | $65K | -31% | 4,820 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -33% | 1,330 |
| North Carolina | $62K | -33% | 3,240 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -36% | 1,870 |
| Mississippi | $56K | -40% | 810 |
| Arkansas | $53K | -43% | 560 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $79,640 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,290, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $143,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,025/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 26.2% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $86,848 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.