Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How does Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary grow from entry-level to senior in Kentucky? State salary progression based on 2025 BLS data.
189% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2025 • Kentucky salary data • Updated 2026-05-19
The salary range for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Kentucky spans from $51,640 at entry-level to $149,280 at senior level — a difference of $97,640 per year.
Senior Detectives and Criminal Investigatorss in Kentucky earn $97,640 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary increases with experience in Kentucky, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $51,640 | $4,303 | $24.83 |
| Early Career | P25 | $61,330 | $5,111 | $29.49 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $71,670 | $5,972 | $34.46 |
| Experienced | P75 | $96,120 | $8,010 | $46.21 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $149,280 | $12,440 | $71.77 |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Kentucky shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $51,640, while senior-level professionals earn $149,280 — a 189% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($71,670) and experienced level ($96,120), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.
Where does Kentucky rank for Detectives and Criminal Investigators senior-level salaries? Compare Kentucky's P90 pay to other top-paying states.
Entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigatorss (10th percentile) earn approximately $51,640 per year, or $4,303 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $61,330. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Detectives and Criminal Investigatorss (90th percentile) earn approximately $149,280 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $96,120. This represents a career premium of 189% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Detectives and Criminal Investigatorss is 189%. Entry-level professionals start at $51,640, while senior-level can earn up to $149,280 — a difference of $97,640 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Detectives and Criminal Investigatorss is Kentucky, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $149,280 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
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Salary percentile data for Kentucky from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within Kentucky.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS