Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Iowa is $79,560/year ($38.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $142K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $89,534 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Iowa?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Iowa runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 21.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa can be a reasonable trade-off for detectives and criminal investigatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $142K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Iowa
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $80K | +1% | 60 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $80K | +0% | 220 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 21.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,536/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $80K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Iowa pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Iowa?
The median is $79,560 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,930, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $141,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,021/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 21.2% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $89,534 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.