How much do Private Detectives and Investigators make?
Private Detectives and Investigators earn a median annual salary of $51,220 in the United States, which works out to roughly $24.63 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $36,740 at the entry level and $97,630 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $40,700 and $73,990 a year.
That is $10,170 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Private Detectives and Investigators salary range by percentile
Half of all Private Detectives and Investigators earn between $40,700 and $73,990 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,740 | $17.66 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $40,700 | $19.57 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $51,220 | $24.63 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $73,990 | $35.57 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,630 | $46.94 |
Highest-paying states for Private Detectives and Investigators
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Oregon leads the country for Private Detectives and Investigators pay at $76,480 a year, followed by Connecticut ($75,010) and District of Columbia ($72,720). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $39,060 — a gap of $37,420 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $76,480 | $36.77 | +49% |
| 2 | Connecticut | $75,010 | $36.06 | +46% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $72,720 | $34.96 | +42% |
| 4 | Vermont | $67,910 | $32.65 | +33% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $65,370 | $31.43 | +28% |
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 49 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 36,000 people work as Private Detectives and Investigators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $60,150 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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