State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs Kentucky
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In Kentucky, $71,670. After cost-of-living, the gap is 41.9% — not 74.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+74.2%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+41.9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $124,840
- p25
- $99,270
- p75
- $136,020
- p10
- $78,280
- p90
- $165,510
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
Kentucky
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $71,670
- p25
- $61,330
- p75
- $96,120
- p10
- $51,640
- p90
- $149,280
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.