How much does a detective and criminal investigator make in Indianapolis?

$76,730a year

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area. That is $36.89 an hour or $6,394 a month.

Hourly: $36.89
Vs. national median: -18%
Rank among cities: 178 of 288
Jobs in the area: 440

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $44,410Median: $76,730Highest 10%: $159,500

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$44,410	$21.35
25th	$57,220	$27.51
Median	$76,730	$36.89
75th	$107,300	$51.60
90th	$159,500	$76.70

Other cities in Indiana

Median yearly pay for detective and criminal investigators.

Chicago, IL	$102,300
Cincinnati, OH	$92,110
Louisville, KY	$83,620
Evansville, IN	$78,890
South Bend, IN	$78,200
Elkhart, IN	$75,850
Fort Wayne, IN	$74,820
Michigan City, IN	$60,100
Terre Haute, IN	$56,320

Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in Indiana Detective and Criminal Investigator salary in all states

Related jobs in Indianapolis

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$98,890
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$97,590
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$83,110
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$76,720
Fire Inspector and Investigator	$73,440
Firefighter	$68,480
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$65,060
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$63,580
Transportation Security Screener	$61,670
Gambling Surveillance Officer and Gambling Investigator	$57,580

Salaries for every job in Indianapolis, IN

Frequently asked questions

How much does a detective and criminal investigator make an hour in Indianapolis?

The median hourly pay in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $36.89 ($76,730 a year).

Do detective and criminal investigators make more in Indianapolis than the national average?

No: $76,730 against $93,790 nationally, 18% less.

How does Indianapolis compare with the rest of Indiana?

The median in Indiana is $70,340, so Indianapolis pays 9% more.

Where does Indianapolis rank for detective and criminal investigator pay?

178 of 288 metro areas with data.

How much does a detective and criminal investigator make starting out in Indianapolis?

The lowest-paid 10% make $44,410 or less a year; the top 10% make $159,500 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.