Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Topeka
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,310 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Topeka earn between $48,440 and $77,750.
- $40K10th
- $48K25th
- $58KMedian
- $78K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,530 | $5,378 | $31.02 |
| Median | $57,700 | $4,808 | $27.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,440 | $4,037 | $23.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,750 | $6,479 | $37.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Topeka vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Topeka earn 18% less than the Kansas average ($78,750) and 35% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -38% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $64,530 | $57,700 | $39,940 | $90,310 | 200 |
| Kansas | $78,750 | $75,740 | $49,610 | $114,030 | 1,060 |
| 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 Topeka
On the average salary of $64,530, a single filer in Topeka takes home about $51,229 a year, or $4,269 a month and $1,970 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Topeka a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Topeka area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $64,530 buys what about $72,653 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Topeka ($49,540). A typical home costs $217,683, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Kansas cities
Topeka ranks 3rd of 3 Kansas metro areas for this job; Wichita pays the most ($87,230).
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Kansas
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 Topeka: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Topeka?
$31.02 an hour on average, and $27.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Topeka?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Topeka?
About $51,229 a year ($4,269 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,530.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Topeka than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% 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 Topeka, KS (45820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.39, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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