Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,450 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Bowling Green earn between $60,910 and $149,280.
- $43K10th
- $61K25th
- $79KMedian
- $149K75th
- $162K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,850 | $8,488 | $48.97 |
| Median | $79,360 | $6,613 | $38.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,910 | $5,076 | $29.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $149,280 | $12,440 | $71.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Bowling Green earn 17% more than the Kentucky average ($86,900) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $101,850 | $79,360 | $43,080 | $162,450 | 40 |
| 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 Bowling Green
On the average salary of $101,850, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $74,997 a year, or $6,250 a month and $2,885 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $101,850 buys what about $112,942 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 1st of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Bowling Green: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Bowling Green?
$48.97 an hour on average, and $38.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $74,997 a year ($6,250 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,850. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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