Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Nebraska is $100,530/year ($48.33/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $155K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $111,638 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 17.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Nebraska?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Detectives and criminal investigators pay in Nebraska tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $94K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,113/month, 18% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $155K or more, a $86K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Nebraska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $105K | +5% | 160 |
| Lincoln | $100K | -1% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 18% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,134/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Nebraska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $94K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Nebraska pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Nebraska?
The median is $100,530 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,900, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $155,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,197/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 18% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $111,638 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.