Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,960 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Lafayette earn between $63,430 and $77,960.
- $62K10th
- $63K25th
- $78KMedian
- $78K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,580 | $6,132 | $35.38 |
| Median | $77,960 | $6,497 | $37.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,430 | $5,286 | $30.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,960 | $6,497 | $37.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Lafayette vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Lafayette earn 5% less than the Indiana average ($77,610) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $73,580 | $77,960 | $61,740 | $77,960 | 40 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $73,580, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $57,487 a year, or $4,791 a month and $2,211 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Is Lafayette a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $73,580 buys what about $78,754 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($48,780). A typical home costs $286,179, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Indiana cities
Lafayette ranks 6th of 8 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($86,860).
- 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 Lafayette: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Lafayette?
$35.38 an hour on average, and $37.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $57,487 a year ($4,791 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,580. Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (29200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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