Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Indiana is $70,340/year ($33.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $76,615 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Indiana?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Indiana
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Indiana runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Indiana can be a reasonable trade-off for detectives and criminal investigatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Indiana
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $79K | +12% | 80 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $78K | +11% | 70 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $78K | +11% | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $77K | +9% | 440 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $76K | +8% | 60 |
| Fort Wayne | $75K | +6% | 90 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $60K | -15% | 50 |
| Terre Haute | $56K | -20% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,729/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Indiana?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $70K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Indiana pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Indiana?
The median is $70,340 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,480, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $127,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,644/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 24.6% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $76,615 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.