Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in South Dakota is $77,730/year ($37.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $149K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $86,472 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in South Dakota?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for detectives and criminal investigators in South Dakota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 19.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for detectives and criminal investigatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $149K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $111K | +42% | 60 |
| Rapid City | $78K | +0% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 19.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,613/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $78K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
South Dakota pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — below the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in South Dakota?
The median is $77,730 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,210, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $149,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,256/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 19.3% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $86,472 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.