SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Fort Wayne, IN is $74,820 a year, trailing the national median of $93,790 by 20.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Fort Wayne, IN is $74,820 a year, trailing the national median of $93,790 by 20.2%. Half of workers earn between $61,220 and $74,820. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $39,520 and the ninetieth at $111,990.
The area has 90 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.54 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Evansville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,890. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 100th of 442 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,520 | −57.9% |
| 25th | $61,220 | −34.7% |
| Median (50th) | $74,820 | −20.2% |
| 75th | $74,820 | −20.2% |
| 90th | $111,990 | +19.4% |
| Mean | $75,880 | −19.1% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evansville | $78,890 | 80 | |
| 2 | South Bend | $78,200 | 70 | |
| 3 | Lafayette | $77,960 | 40 | |
| 4 | Indianapolis | $76,730 | 440 | |
| 5 | Elkhart | $75,850 | 60 | |
| 6 | Michigan City | $60,100 | 50 | |
| 7 | Terre Haute | $56,320 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fort Wayne run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $74,820 goes as far as $80,193 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$74,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,193US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $74,820 a year, 20.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,520 to $111,990 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Evansville, at $78,890.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median annual wage is $74,820, or $35.97 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $93,790, so pay in Fort Wayne, IN is 20.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Fort Wayne, IN earns more than $111,990 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,520 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Evansville, at $78,890 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Fort Wayne, IN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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