Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
Average salary, salary range, and compensation data for Private Detectives and Investigators positions across the United States.
Median Annual Salary
$52,370
National average
Salary Range
$37,250 – $98,770
10th–90th percentile
Data Year
2024
Source: BLS
Private Detectives and Investigators Salary by City
| Location | Median Salary | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $80,060 | $48,120 | $80,060 |
| Salem, OR | $79,550 | $50,060 | $93,620 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $79,110 | $45,350 | $113,210 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,680 | $44,100 | $99,500 |
| Oregon | $77,320 | $43,310 | $97,500 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $76,730 | $43,230 | $102,560 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $75,400 | $47,650 | $117,670 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $75,230 | $39,770 | $110,850 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $74,720 | $42,020 | $100,020 |
| Maryland | $74,360 | $41,580 | $132,340 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $73,530 | $39,090 | $92,260 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $73,530 | $39,520 | $91,470 |
| Illinois | $73,070 | $40,710 | $98,800 |
| Minnesota | $72,070 | $42,220 | $101,950 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $69,550 | $44,740 | $108,810 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $69,500 | $48,480 | $114,450 |
| Syracuse, NY | $69,120 | $39,850 | $110,520 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $68,330 | $43,310 | $68,330 |
| Connecticut | $68,290 | $38,680 | $89,580 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $67,520 | $41,680 | $88,460 |
| Wyoming | $67,360 | $43,230 | $81,770 |
| Vermont | $66,070 | $40,000 | $88,450 |
| Washington | $65,370 | $43,510 | $100,890 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $65,260 | $42,500 | $79,550 |
| Arizona | $64,960 | $38,580 | $110,850 |
| Richmond, VA | $63,580 | $37,560 | $105,700 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $62,600 | $36,020 | $65,040 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $62,230 | $38,580 | $74,320 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $62,190 | $40,530 | $152,080 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $61,850 | $39,520 | $84,230 |
| Tyler, TX | $60,450 | $32,710 | $94,320 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $60,450 | $41,250 | $132,330 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $60,280 | $41,970 | $126,400 |
| California | $60,210 | $42,430 | $102,180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,950 | $42,660 | $96,780 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $59,840 | $44,200 | $113,220 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $59,840 | $42,850 | $98,640 |
| New York | $59,840 | $42,680 | $113,220 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,640 | $42,180 | $84,300 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $59,040 | $43,300 | $89,160 |
| Anchorage, AK | $58,880 | $40,090 | $100,080 |
| Vallejo, CA | $58,250 | $43,310 | $125,070 |
| Ogden, UT | $57,980 | $39,250 | $89,010 |
| Massachusetts | $57,840 | $40,910 | $125,380 |
| New Haven, CT | $57,770 | $39,070 | $85,010 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $57,680 | $41,520 | $79,190 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $57,650 | $37,930 | $82,360 |
| Greenville, NC | $57,590 | $36,950 | $60,840 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $57,130 | $40,780 | $73,530 |
| Cleveland, OH | $57,030 | $36,230 | $72,870 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,660 | $36,420 | $96,570 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $55,970 | $38,660 | $85,120 |
| Rochester, NY | $55,500 | $39,590 | $101,870 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $55,230 | $40,160 | $95,350 |
| North Carolina | $55,190 | $36,150 | $99,550 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $55,050 | $37,950 | $72,630 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $54,720 | $35,350 | $87,400 |
| Alaska | $54,080 | $40,090 | $100,170 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $54,080 | $36,410 | $109,940 |
| South Carolina | $53,890 | $37,840 | $100,450 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $53,770 | $42,090 | $72,710 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $53,540 | $35,970 | $64,860 |
| Peoria, IL | $53,440 | $36,410 | $89,780 |
| Akron, OH | $53,190 | $36,570 | $81,860 |
| Madison, WI | $52,530 | $38,030 | $89,500 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $52,470 | $28,060 | $75,490 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $52,360 | $35,880 | $82,610 |
| Nebraska | $52,160 | $39,920 | $92,170 |
| New Hampshire | $51,990 | $40,710 | $72,810 |
| Reading, PA | $51,960 | $41,530 | $61,010 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $51,850 | $41,090 | $90,890 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $51,820 | $37,310 | $100,090 |
| Birmingham, AL | $51,730 | $36,300 | $86,080 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,650 | $34,550 | $88,440 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $51,610 | $40,000 | $106,200 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $51,610 | $38,000 | $79,940 |
| Rhode Island | $51,610 | $38,000 | $79,940 |
| Modesto, CA | $51,560 | $41,630 | $97,420 |
| New Jersey | $51,540 | $40,350 | $100,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,220 | $39,620 | $89,300 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $51,220 | $37,630 | $88,360 |
| Utah | $51,130 | $38,660 | $85,120 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $51,110 | $36,420 | $71,650 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $51,080 | $36,140 | $103,280 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $50,860 | $35,790 | $112,680 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $50,630 | $36,640 | $88,410 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $50,530 | $40,620 | $89,740 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $50,530 | $38,490 | $77,320 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $50,390 | $39,220 | $76,460 |
| Montgomery, AL | $50,240 | $36,570 | $95,180 |
| Ohio | $50,060 | $36,950 | $80,290 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $50,060 | $41,930 | $101,710 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $49,920 | $40,290 | $101,130 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $49,810 | $41,370 | $82,030 |
| Colorado | $49,720 | $42,130 | $87,260 |
| Michigan | $49,700 | $36,230 | $87,760 |
| Delaware | $49,400 | $44,510 | $71,520 |
| Maine | $49,360 | $39,840 | $72,180 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $49,360 | $39,270 | $72,180 |
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $49,300 | $36,410 | $77,690 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,150 | $38,560 | $76,010 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $49,050 | $31,440 | $84,570 |
| Knoxville, TN | $48,930 | $36,330 | $105,270 |
| Florida | $48,880 | $34,580 | $96,540 |
| Fresno, CA | $48,880 | $40,710 | $87,140 |
| Gainesville, FL | $48,870 | $35,890 | $68,600 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $48,840 | $42,850 | $77,410 |
| Virginia | $48,740 | $34,690 | $103,910 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $48,600 | $37,440 | $81,210 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,600 | $38,970 | $104,190 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $48,430 | $32,670 | $72,310 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $48,380 | $37,440 | $67,680 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $48,380 | $35,880 | $89,440 |
| Idaho | $48,170 | $38,520 | $65,980 |
| Boise City, ID | $48,170 | $38,620 | $65,990 |
| North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $48,160 | $35,700 | $96,620 |
| Kentucky | $48,130 | $38,500 | $71,260 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $48,120 | $35,360 | $78,150 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $48,120 | $35,920 | $73,970 |
| Texas | $48,070 | $35,890 | $99,600 |
| Montana | $47,910 | $41,050 | $79,200 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,860 | $31,710 | $89,270 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $47,860 | $40,260 | $96,750 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $47,790 | $36,290 | $90,220 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $47,790 | $37,020 | $70,440 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $47,700 | $36,420 | $73,910 |
| Nevada | $47,550 | $40,250 | $187,200 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $47,550 | $40,250 | $187,200 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $47,500 | $37,640 | $69,400 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $47,430 | $37,340 | $83,400 |
| Alabama | $47,180 | $33,550 | $83,290 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $47,060 | $38,780 | $105,450 |
| Ocala, FL | $47,020 | $36,410 | $100,380 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $46,870 | $35,820 | $67,660 |
| West Virginia | $46,830 | $22,090 | $77,700 |
| Charleston, WV | $46,820 | $19,600 | $73,690 |
| Columbus, OH | $46,810 | $36,970 | $81,720 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $46,610 | $38,550 | $106,710 |
| Columbia, SC | $46,580 | $36,670 | $100,240 |
| Springfield, MA | $46,570 | $38,410 | $110,220 |
| Tennessee | $46,560 | $37,150 | $105,140 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $46,510 | $36,420 | $60,150 |
| Savannah, GA | $46,500 | $38,830 | $77,180 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,390 | $40,310 | $88,570 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $46,390 | $36,860 | $64,990 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $45,920 | $36,410 | $118,680 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $45,900 | $30,340 | $82,520 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $45,840 | $40,400 | $78,810 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $45,710 | $39,920 | $98,550 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,710 | $39,070 | $92,390 |
| North Dakota | $45,710 | $31,110 | $64,820 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $45,510 | $36,410 | $76,120 |
| Indiana | $45,400 | $36,930 | $80,910 |
| Evansville, IN | $45,400 | $33,680 | $75,920 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $45,290 | $38,680 | $67,250 |
| Iowa | $45,070 | $38,490 | $64,730 |
| Reno, NV | $45,020 | $40,410 | $129,920 |
| Kansas | $45,020 | $34,000 | $64,990 |
| Worcester, MA | $45,020 | $39,280 | $68,120 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $44,910 | $34,810 | $81,660 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $44,910 | $38,490 | $60,590 |
| Tulsa, OK | $44,870 | $37,570 | $60,710 |
| New Mexico | $44,870 | $36,020 | $67,250 |
| Tucson, AZ | $44,780 | $38,200 | $82,070 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $44,630 | $36,410 | $82,880 |
| Georgia | $44,590 | $37,810 | $92,780 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $44,590 | $38,350 | $100,650 |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $44,580 | $36,300 | $64,220 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $44,510 | $38,050 | $73,950 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,390 | $42,330 | $83,380 |
| Hawaii | $44,390 | $42,330 | $80,170 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $44,120 | $37,470 | $90,170 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $43,920 | $36,180 | $64,350 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $43,860 | $36,720 | $98,220 |
| Missouri | $43,780 | $37,130 | $68,330 |
| Louisiana | $43,390 | $35,350 | $70,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,360 | $19,760 | $45,970 |
| Arkansas | $43,310 | $35,350 | $109,010 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $43,310 | $35,880 | $93,090 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $43,230 | $35,360 | $76,180 |
| Wisconsin | $43,210 | $36,220 | $74,240 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $43,180 | $19,760 | $45,970 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $43,100 | $36,420 | $56,110 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $42,890 | $36,040 | $71,600 |
| Jackson, MS | $42,400 | $33,300 | $121,130 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $42,340 | $35,360 | $83,090 |
| El Paso, TX | $42,100 | $35,980 | $81,600 |
| Lafayette, LA | $42,100 | $28,930 | $54,730 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $42,100 | $34,070 | $58,590 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $42,020 | $35,740 | $70,830 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $41,700 | $34,470 | $54,200 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $41,500 | $34,630 | $89,810 |
| Wichita, KS | $41,450 | $33,140 | $81,510 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $41,410 | $37,580 | $59,730 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $41,370 | $35,050 | $93,550 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $41,250 | $39,770 | $53,720 |
| Gainesville, GA | $41,140 | $37,160 | $74,100 |
| St. George, UT | $41,080 | $36,090 | $79,480 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $41,040 | $36,530 | $65,010 |
| Springfield, MO | $40,900 | $37,600 | $60,530 |
| Huntsville, AL | $40,900 | $36,420 | $63,200 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $40,900 | $32,930 | $66,620 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $40,900 | $25,290 | $60,330 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $40,790 | $36,660 | $64,070 |
| Oklahoma | $40,470 | $36,420 | $63,980 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $40,220 | $36,420 | $62,680 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $40,130 | $36,410 | $62,170 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $39,990 | $35,960 | $64,730 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $39,670 | $35,890 | $65,380 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $39,620 | $37,000 | $80,960 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $39,520 | $20,800 | $52,560 |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $39,520 | $33,190 | $79,980 |
| Lubbock, TX | $39,510 | $36,610 | $61,600 |
| Mississippi | $39,460 | $27,790 | $91,830 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,310 | $34,800 | $81,180 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,280 | $34,540 | $101,000 |
| Toledo, OH | $39,080 | $36,160 | $64,730 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $38,970 | $20,510 | $57,360 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $38,810 | $35,660 | $63,140 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $38,490 | $33,180 | $60,840 |
| Mobile, AL | $38,490 | $30,500 | $60,150 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $38,280 | $35,030 | $83,850 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $38,010 | $36,820 | $58,250 |
| Wilmington, NC | $37,680 | $27,930 | $69,540 |
| Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,230 | $35,360 | $85,740 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,550 | $27,720 | $55,190 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Private Detectives and Investigators make?▾
The median annual salary for a Private Detectives and Investigators is $52,370, with a typical range of $37,250 – $98,770 depending on experience, location, and employer.
What is the starting salary for a Private Detectives and Investigators?▾
Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators positions typically start around $37,250 per year. Salaries increase significantly with experience and specialization.
Where do Private Detectives and Investigatorss earn the most?▾
Private Detectives and Investigatorss tend to earn the highest salaries in major metropolitan areas. Use the salary by city table above to compare compensation across different locations.