Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $159,540 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Indianapolis earn between $57,220 and $107,330.
- $44K10th
- $57K25th
- $77KMedian
- $107K75th
- $160K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,860 | $7,238 | $41.76 |
| Median | $76,730 | $6,394 | $36.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,220 | $4,768 | $27.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,330 | $8,944 | $51.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Indianapolis earn 12% more than the Indiana average ($77,610) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $86,860 | $76,730 | $44,410 | $159,540 | 440 |
| Indiana | $77,610 | $70,340 | $45,480 | $127,790 | 1,280 |
| United States | $99,430 | $93,790 | $55,390 | $160,540 | 114,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $86,860, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $65,626 a year, or $5,469 a month and $2,524 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $86,860 buys what about $90,767 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 1st of 8 Indiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Indianapolis$86,860
- Evansville$82,800
- South Bend$77,760
- Elkhart$77,580
- Fort Wayne$75,880
- Lafayette$73,580
- Terre Haute$60,680
- Michigan City$60,300
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Indiana
Highest-paying cities for detectives and criminal investigators
Brunswick, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,490).
- Brunswick, GA$148,490
- Washington, DC$146,910
- San Jose, CA$144,580
- Oxnard, CA$138,040
- San Francisco, CA$135,460
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Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Indianapolis?
$41.76 an hour on average, and $36.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $65,626 a year ($5,469 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,860. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($99,430).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-3021; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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