SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — Kentucky
Kentucky · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Kentucky is $71,670 per year, 23.6% below the national median of $93,790.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Kentucky is $71,670 per year, 23.6% below the national median of $93,790. Pay ranges from under $51,640 at the tenth percentile to more than $149,280 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $61,330 to $96,120.
Employment stands at 720, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Kentucky ranks 43rd by median wage. Lexington leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $84,900. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 192nd of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,640 | −44.9% |
| 25th | $61,330 | −34.6% |
| Median (50th) | $71,670 | −23.6% |
| 75th | $96,120 | +2.5% |
| 90th | $149,280 | +59.2% |
| Mean | $86,900 | −7.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $84,900 | 120 | |
| 2 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $83,620 | 190 | |
| 3 | Bowling Green | $79,360 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $71,670 goes as far as $79,457 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$71,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,457US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $71,670 a year, 23.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $51,640 to $149,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 720 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lexington, at $84,900.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $71,670, or $34.46 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 Kentucky is 23.6% 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 Kentucky earns more than $149,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $51,640 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 Lexington, at $84,900 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 720 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. 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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