Kentucky Median
$71,670
per year
Hourly Rate
$34.46
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-24% vs US median
US median $93,790
State Rank
#43 of 51
720 employed here
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in Kentucky?
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Kentucky take home a median of $71,670 annually — roughly $34.46 an hour — which runs 24% below the national median of $93,790.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $51,640 while the top 10% make $149,280 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,330 and $96,120 a year.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,640 | $24.83 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $61,330 | $29.49 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $71,670 | $34.46 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $96,120 | $46.21 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,280 | $71.77 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 43rd out of 51 states and territories for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other states
District of Columbia $160,760Maryland $126,730California $124,840Delaware $122,050New Jersey $116,300Washington $115,790Alaska $114,940Hawaii $113,940Virginia $112,760Massachusetts $110,150Oregon $107,450Vermont $106,330Colorado $105,480Arizona $102,340New York $101,240Nebraska $100,530Pennsylvania $97,580Connecticut $95,240Nevada $94,470Montana $92,410West Virginia $92,410Illinois $91,190Wisconsin $91,040Michigan $90,650Texas $90,510New Hampshire $89,290Rhode Island $88,450Maine $88,310New Mexico $86,840North Dakota $82,290Wyoming $81,880Oklahoma $80,430Minnesota $80,000Iowa $79,560Ohio $79,300Utah $78,920South Dakota $77,730Tennessee $77,090Florida $77,060Kansas $75,740Missouri $75,650Idaho $72,520Indiana $70,340Alabama $66,290Georgia $65,430North Carolina $63,280South Carolina $62,760Louisiana $60,450Mississippi $58,640Arkansas $54,500
Working as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Kentucky
Nationally, about 114,000 people work as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($71,670) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in Kentucky?
The median Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Kentucky is $71,670 per year, or about $34.46 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $51,640 at the entry level to $149,280 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Detectives and Criminal Investigators about 24% less than the national median of $93,790. Kentucky ranks 43rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Detectives and Criminal Investigators?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $71,670 a year. About 720 Detectives and Criminal Investigators are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary report
Related salaries
$106,040
median pay · 155,000 employed
$74,060
median pay · 6,000 employed
$56,600
median pay · 17,000 employed
$77,970
median pay · 53,000 employed
$59,280
median pay · 346,000 employed
$75,920
median pay · 14,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.