Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
Protective Service Occupations · 36K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$51,220
Median hourly
$25
Average annual
$60,150
Typical range
$36,740–$97,630
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Private Detectives and Investigators is $51,220 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $25 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $36,740 and $97,630 a year. There are roughly 36K people employed as private detectives and investigators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Private Detectives and Investigators.
- Hourly
- $24.63
- Daily
- $197
- Weekly
- $985
- Bi-weekly
- $1,970
- Monthly
- $4,268
- Annual
- $51,220
$51,220 a year is around the 50th percentile for Private Detectives and Investigatorss. The median is $51,220.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Oregon$76,480
- 2Connecticut$75,010
- 3District of Columbia$72,720
- 4Vermont$67,910
- 5New Hampshire$65,370
- 6Washington$64,080
- 7California$61,250
- 8Arizona$61,030
- 9Illinois$60,210
- 10New York$59,140
- 11Utah$57,910
- 12Minnesota$57,880
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Memphis, TN-MS-AR$99,680
- 2Salem, OR$81,070
- 3Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$78,330
- 4Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$77,540
- 5Waterbury-Shelton, CT$76,630
- 6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$75,670
- 7Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$73,430
- 8Manchester-Nashua, NH$70,780
- 9Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$70,220
- 10Burlington-South Burlington, VT$70,190
- 11San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$70,150
- 12Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$68,310
Related job titles
Employers advertise Private Detectives and Investigators roles under these titles.
- AML Investigator (Anti Money Laundering Investigator)
- Background Investigator
- Bonding Agent
- BSA Investigator (Bank Secrecy Act Investigator)
- Cash Shortage Investigator
- Certified Legal Investigator
- Contract Investigator
- Detective Investigator
- Employee Relations Investigator
- House Detective
- House Officer
- Intelligence Agent
- Investigations Assistant
- Licensed Private Investigator
- Loss Prevention Analyst
- Principal Investigator
Related occupations
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators$93,790
- Financial Specialists, All Other$81,100
- Protective Service Workers, All Other$42,540
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,210
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,000
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,040
- Compliance Officers$80,730
- Forensic Science Technicians$72,060
What a Private Detectives and Investigators does
- Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
- Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
- Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
- Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
- Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
- Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
- Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
- Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Private Detectives and Investigators make?
- The median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators is $51,220 ($25 per hour). Pay ranges from about $36,740 at the 10th percentile to $97,630 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Private Detectives and Investigators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $60,150, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Private Detectives and Investigatorss the most?
- Oregon has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $76,480.
- Is Private Detectives and Investigators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 36K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Private Detectives and Investigators do?
- Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.; Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.; Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history..