Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Lawton, OK is $78,920/year ($37.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers.
So what does $79K get you in Lawton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lawton’s Regional Price Parity (85.9). 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 Lawton
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in Lawton runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,001/month, 19.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Lawton can be a reasonable trade-off for detectives and criminal investigatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for detectives and criminal investigators in metros near Lawton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $82K | , |
| Tulsa | $82K | , |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $86K | , |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $86K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lawton, OK
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $82K 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 Lawton numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lawton?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 19.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,001/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Lawton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,996/month. At HUD’s $1,001/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Lawton?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $79K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lawton compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Lawton pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Lawton, OK?
The median is $78,920 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,940, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $131,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Lawton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,054/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,001/month, which eats 19.8% 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 Lawton?
Lawton has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median detectives and criminal investigators salary is worth about $91,874 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.