Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN is $78,880/year ($37.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.43), which stretches that salary to about $84,427 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,242/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette-West Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (93.43). 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, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $16K 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median is $78,880 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,470, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $78,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,123/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,242/month, which eats 24.2% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Lafayette-West Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 93.43 (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 $84,427 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.