Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI is $89,210/year ($42.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.96), that's roughly $92,966 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,235/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $89K get you in Racine-Mount Pleasant?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Racine-Mount Pleasant’s Regional Price Parity (95.96). 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 Racine-Mount Pleasant
Detectives and criminal investigators pay in Racine-Mount Pleasant tracks closely to the national median, $89K locally vs. $94K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,235/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 95.96) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for detectives and criminal investigators in metros near Racine-Mount Pleasant, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $93K | $96K |
| Madison | $103K | $106K |
| Kenosha | $92K | $91K |
| Eau Claire | $78K | $84K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $18K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
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Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Racine-Mount Pleasant?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,235/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Racine-Mount Pleasant?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,333/month. At HUD’s $1,235/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Racine-Mount Pleasant?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $89K locally vs. $94K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Racine-Mount Pleasant compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Racine-Mount Pleasant pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI?
The median is $89,210 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,220, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $90,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Racine-Mount Pleasant?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,622/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,235/month, which eats 22% 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 Racine-Mount Pleasant?
Racine-Mount Pleasant has a Regional Price Parity of 95.96 (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 $92,966 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.
