Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA is $48,270/year ($23.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.1), which stretches that salary to about $56,722 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,102/month, about 33.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $48K actually covers in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux’s Regional Price Parity (85.1). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux runs about 49% below the U.S. median of $94K. Rent runs $1,102/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.1 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 15% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for detectives and criminal investigators in metros near Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $62K | $67K |
| Baton Rouge | $64K | $70K |
| Monroe | $65K | $78K |
| Lafayette | $61K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $37K 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
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,102/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,658/month. At HUD’s $1,102/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 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux?
Local pay runs 49% below the national median — $48K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 15% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -49%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.1), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA?
The median is $48,270 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,590, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $75,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,278/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,102/month, which eats 33.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a detectives and criminal investigators salary go in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux?
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux has a Regional Price Parity of 85.1 (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 $56,722 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.