Private Detective and Investigator Salary
Private Detectives and Investigators earn a median $51,220 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$51,220
$24.63 per hour
Range
$36,740 – $97,630
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
35,580
across the U.S.
▼2.2%
Pay trend: The median for private detectives and investigators in the U.S. fell from $52,370 (May 2024) to $51,220 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 4.6%.
What private detectives and investigators do
Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.5% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 3,200
- Self-employed
- 10%
Employment of private detectives and investigators is projected to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Private Detective and Investigator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$43,335
per year · effective tax rate 15.4%
$3,611Monthly
$1,806Twice a month
$1,667Every 2 weeks
$20.83Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,966
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,176
- Medicare (1.45%)$743
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,335
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,740 | $17.66 | $31,701 |
| 25th percentile | $40,700 | $19.57 | $34,882 |
| Median (50th) | $51,220 | $24.63 | $43,335 |
| 75th percentile | $73,990 | $35.57 | $60,882 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,630 | $46.94 | $77,513 |
Private Detective and Investigator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $76,480 | −1.1% | $56,771 | $44,610 – $97,500 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 | +9.8% | $59,049 | $38,300 – $95,790 | 400 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 | — | $56,708 | $45,790 – $156,670 | — |
| Vermont | $67,910 | +2.8% | $54,583 | $41,860 – $95,830 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 | +25.7% | $54,705 | $40,510 – $124,150 | 280 |
| Washington | $64,080 | −2.0% | $53,668 | $43,060 – $104,220 | 750 |
| California | $61,250 | +1.7% | $48,874 | $42,600 – $103,410 | 4,190 |
| Arizona | $61,030 | −6.0% | $49,901 | $38,240 – $92,160 | 790 |
| Illinois | $60,210 | −17.6% | $47,723 | $38,920 – $97,780 | 1,300 |
| New York | $59,140 | −1.2% | $47,102 | $40,940 – $103,610 | 1,300 |
| Utah | $57,910 | +13.3% | $47,071 | $38,690 – $89,900 | 350 |
| Minnesota | $57,880 | −19.7% | $46,274 | $40,520 – $101,360 | 600 |
| Virginia | $56,160 | +15.2% | $44,889 | $35,530 – $95,000 | 1,280 |
| Delaware | $55,710 | +12.8% | $44,528 | $40,400 – $80,700 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $54,710 | +6.2% | $44,665 | $39,980 – $103,750 | 410 |
| Rhode Island | $54,620 | +5.8% | $44,636 | $37,560 – $79,140 | 60 |
| Wyoming | $54,310 | −19.4% | $45,818 | $40,550 – $80,120 | 40 |
| Alaska | $53,440 | −1.2% | $45,119 | $39,620 – $105,970 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $52,890 | −4.2% | $43,076 | $36,600 – $98,560 | 1,710 |
| Texas | $51,810 | +7.8% | $43,809 | $35,650 – $99,930 | 3,220 |
| Nebraska | $51,750 | −0.8% | $42,286 | $38,950 – $89,480 | 160 |
| South Carolina | $51,530 | −4.4% | $41,650 | $37,000 – $93,740 | 620 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,200 | −0.0% | $41,747 | $38,380 – $91,470 | 1,220 |
| Florida | $50,640 | +3.6% | $42,869 | $35,990 – $85,830 | 3,660 |
| Massachusetts | $50,240 | −13.1% | $40,256 | $40,250 – $121,090 | 280 |
| Tennessee | $49,360 | +6.0% | $41,841 | $33,930 – $101,030 | 940 |
| Colorado | $48,730 | −2.0% | $39,899 | $41,110 – $86,430 | 540 |
| Michigan | $48,650 | −2.1% | $39,453 | $36,360 – $87,420 | 850 |
| Idaho | $47,910 | −0.5% | $39,245 | $39,520 – $69,710 | 210 |
| Arkansas | $47,750 | +10.3% | $38,898 | $35,990 – $107,930 | 370 |
| Kentucky | $47,650 | −1.0% | $38,917 | $37,340 – $70,150 | 350 |
| Montana | $47,430 | −1.0% | $38,817 | $39,900 – $73,190 | 70 |
| Ohio | $47,200 | −5.7% | $39,590 | $37,460 – $84,930 | 1,560 |
| Alabama | $46,810 | −0.8% | $37,716 | $35,990 – $61,420 | 530 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 | −0.9% | $38,109 | $35,990 – $78,560 | 170 |
| Hawaii | $45,750 | +3.1% | $36,962 | $41,830 – $83,050 | 70 |
| Kansas | $45,260 | +0.5% | $36,821 | $35,810 – $76,520 | 280 |
| Georgia | $45,060 | +1.1% | $36,670 | $36,570 – $96,680 | 1,460 |
| South Dakota | $44,840 | — | $38,209 | $40,050 – $49,560 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $44,310 | −3.1% | $37,783 | $32,710 – $61,320 | 60 |
| Maine | $43,830 | −11.2% | $35,621 | $36,550 – $67,230 | 210 |
| Louisiana | $41,950 | −3.3% | $35,015 | $35,000 – $67,690 | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $41,850 | −3.1% | $34,746 | $37,000 – $76,550 | 410 |
| Indiana | $41,830 | −7.9% | $34,586 | $36,500 – $77,000 | 480 |
| Missouri | $41,600 | −5.0% | $34,588 | $33,660 – $67,720 | 590 |
| New Mexico | $41,600 | −7.3% | $34,784 | $35,660 – $66,350 | — |
| Iowa | $41,110 | −8.8% | $34,302 | $36,920 – $64,080 | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $39,680 | −2.0% | $32,823 | $36,050 – $62,690 | 370 |
| Mississippi | $39,060 | −1.0% | $32,734 | $31,800 – $69,170 | 330 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a private detective and investigator make?
The national median salary for private detectives and investigators is $51,220 a year ($24.63 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,740 and the top 10% earn over $97,630. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays private detectives and investigators the most?
Oregon has the highest median pay at $76,480.
How many private detectives and investigators are there in the U.S.?
About 35,580 people work as private detectives and investigators nationwide.