Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in California
State wage data from the BLS OEWS survey, May 2025.
Median annual
$61,250
Median hourly
$29
Average annual
$67,040
Employed in state
4.2K
The median annual salary for Private Detectives and Investigators in California is $61,250, or about $29 an hour. That is 20% higher than the national median.
Pay in California ranges from $42,600 at the 10th percentile to $103,410 at the 90th percentile. Roughly 4.2K people work as private detectives and investigators in the state.
Pay distribution in California
10th$42,600
25th$45,380
Median$61,250
75th$82,110
90th$103,410
Salary calculator
- Hourly
- $29.45
- Daily
- $236
- Weekly
- $1,178
- Bi-weekly
- $2,356
- Monthly
- $5,104
- Annual
- $61,250
$61,250 a year is around the 50th percentile for Private Detectives and Investigatorss in California. The median is $61,250.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,150 | 430 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,060 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,680 | 1.5K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,490 | 420 |
| Modesto, CA | $58,460 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,170 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,130 | 350 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,220 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,650 | 280 |
| Vallejo, CA | $48,600 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,970 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $43,590 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,230 | 60 |
Other jobs in California
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
- Retail Salespersons$35,410
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Registered Nurses$97,550
- Cashiers$32,880
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- General and Operations Managers$105,770
- Software Developers$135,980
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Security Guards$38,020
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Accountants and Auditors$83,680
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$69,990