Private Detectives and Investigators salary
Half of private detectives and investigators earned more than $51,220 a year in May 2025, and half earned less. The middle half earned between $40,700 and $73,990; the top 10% earned more than $97,630.
- Median / yr
- $51,220
- Median / hr
- $24.62
- Average (mean) / yr
- $60,150
- Bottom 10% earn under
- $36,740
- 25th percentile
- $40,700
- 75th percentile
- $73,990
- Top 10% earn over
- $97,630
- Jobs (wage & salary)
- 35,580
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national, all industries.
How does pay for private detectives and investigators compare?
- The median is 1.0 times the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations.
- It ranks 526th of 825 occupations by median annual wage.
- The average (mean) wage is $60,150, above the median, which means a group of high earners pulls the average up.
Occupations with similar pay
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians — $51,430 (#523)
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters — $51,330 (#524)
- Locksmiths and Safe Repairers — $51,320 (#525)
- Medical Records Specialists — $51,140 (#527)
- Animal Breeders — $51,130 (#528)
- Proofreaders and Copy Markers — $51,120 (#529)
What does it take to become one?
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
“Typical” describes what most entrants need, as assessed by BLS. Licensing and certification rules vary by state and are not shown here.
Is the number of jobs growing?
BLS projects employment of private detectives and investigators to change by +5.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the +3.5% projected for all occupations. It expects about 3,200 openings a year on average, counting jobs left by people who retire or change occupations.
About 9.8% of people in this occupation were self-employed in 2025. The wage figures on this page do not include them.
Which states pay private detectives and investigators the most?
Oregon has the highest published median, at $76,480. After adjusting for each state’s price level, the highest is Oregon ($73,993 in national-average prices).
| State | Median | Adjusted for prices | Top 10% over | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $76,480 | $73,993 | $97,500 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 | $72,396 | $95,790 | 400 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 | $66,169 | $156,670 | — |
| Vermont | $67,910 | $69,326 | $95,830 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 | $62,756 | $124,150 | 280 |
| Washington | $64,080 | $59,881 | $104,220 | 750 |
| California | $61,250 | $55,320 | $103,410 | 4,190 |
| Arizona | $61,030 | $60,620 | $92,160 | 790 |
| Illinois | $60,210 | $60,235 | $97,780 | 1,300 |
| New York | $59,140 | $54,799 | $103,610 | 1,300 |
| Utah | $57,910 | $58,575 | $89,900 | 350 |
| Minnesota | $57,880 | $58,689 | $101,360 | 600 |
| Virginia | $56,160 | $55,547 | $95,000 | 1,280 |
| Delaware | $55,710 | $55,817 | $80,700 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $54,710 | $50,283 | $103,750 | 410 |
| Rhode Island | $54,620 | $53,402 | $79,140 | 60 |
| Wyoming | $54,310 | $58,593 | $80,120 | 40 |
| Alaska | $53,440 | $52,208 | $105,970 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $52,890 | $56,071 | $98,560 | 1,710 |
| Texas | $51,810 | $53,381 | $99,930 | 3,220 |
| Nebraska | $51,750 | $57,434 | $89,480 | 160 |
| South Carolina | $51,530 | $54,966 | $93,740 | 620 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,200 | $52,474 | $91,470 | 1,220 |
| Florida | $50,640 | $48,968 | $85,830 | 3,660 |
| Massachusetts | $50,240 | $47,505 | $121,090 | 280 |
| Tennessee | $49,360 | $53,728 | $101,030 | 940 |
| Colorado | $48,730 | $47,287 | $86,430 | 540 |
| Michigan | $48,650 | $50,563 | $87,420 | 850 |
| Idaho | $47,910 | $50,171 | $69,710 | 210 |
| Arkansas | $47,750 | $54,925 | $107,930 | 370 |
| Kentucky | $47,650 | $52,851 | $70,150 | 350 |
| Montana | $47,430 | $50,114 | $73,190 | 70 |
| Ohio | $47,200 | $50,876 | $84,930 | 1,560 |
| Alabama | $46,810 | $52,700 | $61,420 | 530 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 | $51,856 | $78,560 | 170 |
| Hawaii | $45,750 | $41,609 | $83,050 | 70 |
| Kansas | $45,260 | $50,251 | $76,520 | 280 |
| Georgia | $45,060 | $46,795 | $96,680 | 1,460 |
| South Dakota | $44,840 | $50,617 | $49,560 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $44,310 | $49,809 | $61,320 | 60 |
| Maine | $43,830 | $45,162 | $67,230 | 210 |
| Louisiana | $41,950 | $47,559 | $67,690 | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $41,850 | $44,476 | $76,550 | 410 |
| Indiana | $41,830 | $44,820 | $77,000 | 480 |
| Missouri | $41,600 | $45,806 | $67,720 | 590 |
| New Mexico | $41,600 | $45,113 | $66,350 | — |
| Iowa | $41,110 | $46,843 | $64,080 | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $39,680 | $45,171 | $62,690 | 370 |
| Mississippi | $39,060 | $44,921 | $69,170 | 330 |
Adjusted figures divide each state’s median by its 2024 regional price parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S. = 100), the latest available. “≥ $239,200” means BLS reports the value only as $239,200 a year ($115.00 an hour) or more; those rows are placed at that lower bound and cannot be adjusted for prices. Dashes mean BLS did not publish an estimate.
What these numbers include
- Wages are straight-time gross pay reported by employers: base pay, commissions, production bonuses, tips and similar pay are included; overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits are not.
- Only employees are counted. Self-employed workers and owners of unincorporated businesses are not in the survey.
- Figures cover all industries nationwide. Pay for a single employer, city or experience level can differ widely.
Related rankings
- Highest-paying jobs without a degree
- Highest-paying jobs outside healthcare
- Ranking for “High school diploma or equivalent”
- All 825 occupations ranked
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national and state files).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024.