Sources: Iowa Department of Administrative Services, Iowa FY 2027 Classification Plan and Pay Plans; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Iowa state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective June 19, 2026. These are the ranges Iowa sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Special Agent 1 Class 10100 · class description Grade 27 · 007 SPOC | $65,749 – $98,675 a year |
| Special Investigator Class 80690 · class description Grade 32 · 014 AFSCME | $70,075 – $108,389 a year |
| Special Agent 2 Class 10170 · class description Grade 32 · 007 SPOC | $80,018 – $120,245 a year |
| Special Agent 2 Class 80170 · class description Grade 32 · 007 SPOC | $80,018 – $120,245 a year |
Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Iowa Department of Administrative Services, Iowa FY 2027 Classification Plan and Pay Plans. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Iowa, all employers Sourced
Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) in Iowa, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | IA |
|---|---|
| Workers | 410 |
| 10th percentile | $58,930 |
| Median | $79,560 |
| 90th percentile | $141,650 |
| National median, government employers | $93,790 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Employers in Iowa
169 police departments in Iowa.
99 sheriff's offices in Iowa.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Iowa
AFOSI Special Agent Selection Cognitive Exam (Air Force Office of Special Investigations)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep- Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent Test (DSSAT)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Entrance ExamEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Test Battery (SATB)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NCIS Special Agent (1811) Selection Exam — Phase I Cognitive/Logical ReasoningEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Detective / Criminal Investigator page.