SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — Lexington
Lexington-Fayette, KY · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Lexington, KY is $84,900 a year, trailing the national median of $93,790 by 9.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Lexington, KY is $84,900 a year, trailing the national median of $93,790 by 9.5%. Half of workers earn between $63,600 and $140,500. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $54,920 and the ninetieth at $166,860.
The area has 120 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.55 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Louisville/Jefferson County leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $83,620. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 92nd of 469 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,920 | −41.4% |
| 25th | $63,600 | −32.2% |
| Median (50th) | $84,900 | −9.5% |
| 75th | $140,500 | +49.8% |
| 90th | $166,860 | +77.9% |
| Mean | $98,920 | +5.5% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $83,620 | 190 | |
| 2 | Bowling Green | $79,360 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lexington run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $84,900 goes as far as $94,124 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$84,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$94,124US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $84,900 a year, 9.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $54,920 to $166,860 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $83,620.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Lexington, KY?
The median annual wage is $84,900, or $40.82 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 Lexington, KY is 9.5% 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 Lexington, KY earns more than $166,860 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $54,920 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, at $83,620 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in Lexington, KY. 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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