Private Detectives and Investigators Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$37,340
- 25th Percentile — Junior$40,220
- 50th Percentile — Median$47,650
- 75th Percentile — Senior$56,080
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$70,150
Half of Private Detectives and Investigators in Kentucky earn more than $47,650. The top 10% make $70,150 or more, while entry-level workers start around $37,340.
Private Detectives and Investigators in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 35th of 49 states for Private Detectives and Investigators pay, at $51,130 per year (15.0% below the U.S. average of $60,150).
- 350 people work as Private Detectives and Investigators in Kentucky — 1.0% of all U.S. Private Detectives and Investigators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.76: Private Detectives and Investigators jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,340; the top 10% earn over $70,150.
- Hourly equivalent: $24.58 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $88,260.
- Among public safety jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($88,030).
Private Detectives and Investigators Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Private Detectives and Investigators here earn $51,130 on average, placing the state 35th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $51,130 is roughly equivalent to $61,602 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Georgia ($54,730), Idaho ($54,530), Michigan ($53,850) are the closest alternatives for Private Detectives and Investigators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $88,030/yr Kentucky +72.2% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $86,900/yr Kentucky +70.0% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $67,280/yr Kentucky +31.6% vs this role
- Police Officers $59,840/yr Kentucky +17.0% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $44,870/yr Kentucky 12.2% vs this role
- Firefighters $42,100/yr Kentucky 17.7% vs this role
- Security Guards $38,540/yr Kentucky 24.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Kentucky?
The average Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Kentucky is $51,130 per year (median $47,650), which is 15.0% below the national average of $60,150.
How does Kentucky rank for Private Detectives and Investigators pay?
Kentucky ranks 35th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($88,260/yr).
How much do entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Private Detectives and Investigators in Kentucky earn about $37,340 per year and the 25th percentile is $40,220.
How much do Private Detectives and Investigators make per hour in Kentucky?
About $24.58 per hour, based on the $51,130 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Private Detectives and Investigators work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 350 Private Detectives and Investigators jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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