Detectives and Criminal Investigators Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$60,210
- 25th Percentile — Junior$63,110
- 50th Percentile — Median$77,730
- 75th Percentile — Senior$110,880
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$149,280
Half of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in South Dakota earn more than $77,730. The top 10% make $149,280 or more, while entry-level workers start around $60,210.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 30th of 51 states for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay, at $91,060 per year (8.4% below the U.S. average of $99,430).
- 250 people work as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in South Dakota — 0.2% of all U.S. Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.74: Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs are less concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $60,210; the top 10% earn over $149,280.
- Hourly equivalent: $43.78 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $148,110.
- Among public safety jobs in South Dakota, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($97,350).
Detectives and Criminal Investigators Job Market in South Dakota
Key factors affecting compensation
South Dakota's key industries are Agriculture, Finance, Tourism, and its job market is rated moderate. Detectives and Criminal Investigators here earn $91,060 on average, placing the state 30th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $91,060 is roughly equivalent to $104,667 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Florida ($93,020), Maine ($92,920), Texas ($92,030) are the closest alternatives for Detectives and Criminal Investigators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $97,350/yr South Dakota +6.9% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $81,140/yr South Dakota 10.9% vs this role
- Police Officers $64,320/yr South Dakota 29.4% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $53,260/yr South Dakota 41.5% vs this role
- Firefighters $51,180/yr South Dakota 43.8% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $44,210/yr South Dakota 51.4% vs this role
- Security Guards $40,250/yr South Dakota 55.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in South Dakota?
The average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in South Dakota is $91,060 per year (median $77,730), which is 8.4% below the national average of $99,430.
How does South Dakota rank for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay?
South Dakota ranks 30th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($148,110/yr).
How much do entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in South Dakota earn about $60,210 per year and the 25th percentile is $63,110.
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make per hour in South Dakota?
About $43.78 per hour, based on the $91,060 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Detectives and Criminal Investigators work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 250 Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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