Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Lawrence, KS is $93,020/year ($44.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.24), which stretches that salary to about $103,081 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,182/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $93K get you in Lawrence?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lawrence’s Regional Price Parity (90.24). 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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What this looks like in Lawrence
Detectives and criminal investigators pay in Lawrence tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $94K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,182/month, 20.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.24 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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 Lawrence, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $87K | $98K |
| Topeka | $58K | $65K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $113K | , |
| Kansas City | $91K | $99K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lawrence, KS
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $54K 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 states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lawrence numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lawrence?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 20.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,182/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Lawrence?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,714/month. At HUD’s $1,182/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Lawrence?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $94K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Lawrence compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Lawrence pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.24), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Lawrence, KS?
The median is $93,020 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,240, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $99,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Lawrence?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,765/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,182/month, which eats 20.5% 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 Lawrence?
Lawrence has a Regional Price Parity of 90.24 (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 $103,081 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.