The average salary for a detective in Kentucky is around $71,670 per year.
Avg Salary
Detectives earn an average yearly salary of $71,670.
Wages typically start from $51,640 and go up to $149,280.
34% above national average Updated in 2025
Detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level detective earnings begin at:
$71.77 per hour
$149,280 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level detective earnings begin at:
$46.21 per hour
$96,120 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level detective earnings begin at:
$34.46 per hour
$71,670 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level detective earnings begin at:
$29.49 per hour
$61,330 per year
10th percentile
Starting level detective earnings begin at:
$24.83 per hour
$51,640 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $97,580 |
| Connecticut | $95,240 |
| Nevada | $94,470 |
| Montana | $92,410 |
| West Virginia | $92,410 |
| Illinois | $91,190 |
| Wisconsin | $91,040 |
| Michigan | $90,650 |
| Texas | $90,510 |
| New Hampshire | $89,290 |
| Puerto Rico | $88,880 |
| Rhode Island | $88,450 |
| Maine | $88,310 |
| New Mexico | $86,840 |
| North Dakota | $82,290 |
| Wyoming | $81,880 |
| Oklahoma | $80,430 |
| Minnesota | $80,000 |
| Iowa | $79,560 |
| Ohio | $79,300 |
| Utah | $78,920 |
| South Dakota | $77,730 |
| Tennessee | $77,090 |
| Florida | $77,060 |
| Kansas | $75,740 |
| Missouri | $75,650 |
| Idaho | $72,520 |
| Kentucky | $71,670 |
| Indiana | $70,340 |
| Alabama | $66,290 |
| Georgia | $65,430 |
| North Carolina | $63,280 |
| South Carolina | $62,760 |
| Louisiana | $60,450 |
| Mississippi | $58,640 |
| Arkansas | $54,500 |
| District of Columbia | $160,760 |
| Maryland | $126,730 |
| California | $124,840 |
| Delaware | $122,050 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 |
| Washington | $115,790 |
| Alaska | $114,940 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 |
| Virginia | $112,760 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 |
| Oregon | $107,450 |
| Vermont | $106,330 |
| Colorado | $105,480 |
| Arizona | $102,340 |
| New York | $101,240 |
| Nebraska | $100,530 |
How do detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Detectives earn 8% less than similar careers in Kentucky. On average, they make less than compliance managers but more than coroners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Compliance manager salary | $123K |
| Lawyer salary | $102K |
| Detective salary | $72K |
| Special agent salary | $72K |
| Customs inspector salary | $72K |
| Social worker salary | $85K |
| Coroner salary | $69K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)