Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $166,860 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Lexington earn between $63,600 and $140,500.
- $55K10th
- $64K25th
- $85KMedian
- $140K75th
- $167K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,920 | $8,243 | $47.56 |
| Median | $84,900 | $7,075 | $40.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,600 | $5,300 | $30.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $140,500 | $11,708 | $67.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Lexington earn 14% more than the Kentucky average ($86,900) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $98,920 | $84,900 | $54,920 | $166,860 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $86,900 | $71,670 | $51,640 | $149,280 | 720 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $98,920, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $72,355 a year, or $6,030 a month and $2,783 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $98,920 buys what about $106,493 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Bowling Green pays the most ($101,850).
- Bowling Green$101,850
- Lexington$98,920
- Louisville$96,110
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Kentucky
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 Lexington: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Lexington?
$47.56 an hour on average, and $40.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Lexington?
About $72,355 a year ($6,030 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,920. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). 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 (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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