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Top 15 cities for private detectives and investigators by average salary
| San Francisco, CA | $78,960 |
|---|---|
| Salem, OR | $78,540 |
| Memphis, TN | $78,160 |
| Portland, OR | $77,440 |
| Seattle, WA | $77,230 |
| San Jose, CA | $77,160 |
| Charlotte, NC | $74,090 |
| Manchester, NH | $73,260 |
| Washington, DC | $73,200 |
| New York, NY | $71,950 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $71,820 |
| Boston, MA | $70,520 |
| Hartford, CT | $68,320 |
| Chicago, IL | $68,020 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $67,920 |
Map: Private Detectives and Investigators salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays private detectives and investigators the most statewide, $88,260 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $88,260 | $72,720 | n/a | 1 | $73,200 | $73,200 |
| Oregon | $74,690 | $76,480 | 610 | 3 | $78,540 | $65,860 |
| Washington | $71,020 | $64,080 | 750 | 3 | $77,230 | $62,180 |
| Massachusetts | $70,110 | $50,240 | 280 | 2 | $70,520 | $51,110 |
| New Hampshire | $69,350 | $65,370 | 280 | 1 | $73,260 | $73,260 |
| New York | $68,310 | $59,140 | 1,300 | 6 | $71,950 | $50,220 |
| California | $67,040 | $61,250 | 4,190 | 13 | $78,960 | $50,310 |
| Connecticut | $66,560 | $75,010 | 400 | 4 | $68,320 | $61,130 |
| Minnesota | $66,510 | $57,880 | 600 | 1 | $71,820 | $71,820 |
| New Jersey | $66,160 | $54,710 | 410 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | $64,440 | $60,210 | 1,300 | 1 | $68,020 | $68,020 |
| Tennessee | $63,810 | $49,360 | 940 | 3 | $78,160 | $45,790 |
| Vermont | $63,670 | $67,910 | 90 | 1 | $66,800 | $66,800 |
| Arizona | $62,410 | $61,030 | 790 | 2 | $64,950 | $48,210 |
| Alaska | $62,190 | $53,440 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | $61,940 | $56,160 | 1,280 | 2 | $63,490 | $48,290 |
| North Carolina | $61,350 | $52,890 | 1,710 | 9 | $74,090 | $44,860 |
| Rhode Island | $60,960 | $54,620 | 60 | 1 | $59,380 | $59,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,880 | $51,200 | 1,220 | 6 | $67,380 | $50,060 |
| Utah | $59,830 | $57,910 | 350 | 3 | $60,460 | $57,240 |
| Delaware | $59,230 | $55,710 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| South Carolina | $58,980 | $51,530 | 620 | 3 | $55,500 | $46,320 |
| Colorado | $58,910 | $48,730 | 540 | 3 | $62,840 | $47,980 |
| Wyoming | $58,800 | $54,310 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Texas | $58,670 | $51,810 | 3,220 | 9 | $62,630 | $44,450 |
| Nebraska | $58,140 | $51,750 | 160 | 2 | $61,760 | $50,180 |
| Arkansas | $57,940 | $47,750 | 370 | 2 | $54,120 | $46,790 |
| Ohio | $56,980 | $47,200 | 1,560 | 8 | $64,630 | $40,100 |
| Florida | $55,820 | $50,640 | 3,660 | 16 | $63,060 | $48,730 |
| Hawaii | $54,920 | $45,750 | 70 | 1 | $54,760 | $54,760 |
| Georgia | $54,730 | $45,060 | 1,460 | 4 | $58,050 | $42,570 |
| Idaho | $54,530 | $47,910 | 210 | 1 | $53,830 | $53,830 |
| Michigan | $53,850 | $48,650 | 850 | 3 | $54,780 | $46,930 |
| Montana | $52,540 | $47,430 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $51,130 | $47,650 | 350 | 2 | $56,040 | $49,380 |
| Wisconsin | $50,660 | $41,850 | 410 | 2 | $53,090 | $48,620 |
| Kansas | $50,220 | $45,260 | 280 | 1 | $48,130 | $48,130 |
| West Virginia | $49,600 | $46,410 | 170 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico | $49,550 | $41,600 | n/a | 1 | $51,450 | $51,450 |
| Indiana | $49,080 | $41,830 | 480 | 3 | $52,750 | $46,820 |
| Alabama | $48,750 | $46,810 | 530 | 4 | $52,520 | $45,890 |
| Maine | $48,590 | $43,830 | 210 | 1 | $51,020 | $51,020 |
| Iowa | $48,190 | $41,110 | 170 | 2 | $53,130 | $51,100 |
| Missouri | $48,150 | $41,600 | 590 | 3 | $54,730 | $45,020 |
| North Dakota | $47,230 | $44,310 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $46,450 | $39,680 | 370 | 2 | $49,710 | $45,410 |
| Mississippi | $46,370 | $39,060 | 330 | 2 | $50,710 | $47,830 |
| Louisiana | $46,110 | $41,950 | 860 | 5 | $49,920 | $41,870 |
| South Dakota | $44,210 | $44,840 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $37,480 | $42,190 | 120 | 1 | $36,440 | $36,440 |
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Private Detectives and Investigators salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $78,960 | $70,150 | $37.96 | 430 |
| Salem, OR | $78,540 | $81,070 | $37.76 | 180 |
| Memphis, TN | $78,160 | $99,680 | $37.58 | 310 |
| Portland, OR | $77,440 | $78,330 | $37.23 | 270 |
| Seattle, WA | $77,230 | $75,670 | $37.13 | 430 |
| San Jose, CA | $77,160 | $64,060 | $37.10 | 190 |
| Charlotte, NC | $74,090 | $73,430 | $35.62 | 860 |
| Manchester, NH | $73,260 | $70,780 | $35.22 | 100 |
| Washington, DC | $73,200 | $62,300 | $35.19 | 790 |
| New York, NY | $71,950 | $59,140 | $34.59 | 1,040 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $71,820 | $70,220 | $34.53 | 410 |
| Boston, MA | $70,520 | $60,910 | $33.90 | 230 |
| Hartford, CT | $68,320 | $77,540 | $32.85 | 150 |
| Chicago, IL | $68,020 | $68,310 | $32.70 | 970 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $67,920 | $61,680 | $32.65 | 1,520 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $67,380 | $59,770 | $32.40 | 80 |
| Burlington, VT | $66,800 | $70,190 | $32.11 | 50 |
| Eugene, OR | $65,860 | $63,940 | $31.67 | 30 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $64,950 | $64,400 | $31.23 | 610 |
| Vallejo, CA | $64,790 | $48,600 | $31.15 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $64,630 | $51,780 | $31.07 | 390 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $64,270 | $53,930 | $30.90 | 40 |
| Waterbury, CT | $63,850 | $76,630 | $30.70 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $63,810 | $47,970 | $30.68 | 50 |
| Richmond, VA | $63,490 | $52,430 | $30.52 | 130 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $63,460 | $64,080 | $30.51 | 60 |
| Deltona, FL | $63,060 | $59,350 | $30.32 | 120 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $62,840 | $62,520 | $30.21 | 40 |
| Dallas, TX | $62,630 | $61,460 | $30.11 | 1,070 |
| Spokane, WA | $62,220 | $61,460 | $29.91 | 90 |
| Olympia, WA | $62,180 | $56,530 | $29.89 | 30 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $62,090 | $53,680 | $29.85 | 450 |
| Lincoln, NE | $61,760 | $53,800 | $29.69 | 30 |
| Denver, CO | $61,390 | $52,000 | $29.52 | 340 |
| Stockton, CA | $61,260 | $50,220 | $29.45 | 80 |
| New Haven, CT | $61,130 | $65,030 | $29.39 | 70 |
| Riverside, CA | $61,050 | $59,490 | $29.35 | 420 |
| San Antonio, TX | $60,730 | $56,760 | $29.20 | 260 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $60,460 | $57,910 | $29.07 | 240 |
| Ogden, UT | $60,440 | $55,450 | $29.06 | 40 |
| San Diego, CA | $60,370 | $48,650 | $29.02 | 280 |
| Modesto, CA | $60,200 | $58,460 | $28.94 | 30 |
| Oxnard, CA | $59,960 | $58,170 | $28.83 | 80 |
| Rochester, NY | $59,380 | $50,510 | $28.55 | 90 |
| Providence, RI | $59,380 | $46,560 | $28.55 | 80 |
| Albany, NY | $59,320 | $43,890 | $28.52 | 60 |
| Miami, FL | $58,660 | $54,720 | $28.20 | 1,030 |
| Nashville, TN | $58,630 | $44,890 | $28.19 | 210 |
| Buffalo, NY | $58,470 | $50,540 | $28.11 | 80 |
| Sacramento, CA | $58,440 | $51,130 | $28.10 | 350 |
| Atlanta, GA | $58,050 | $45,080 | $27.91 | 980 |
| Beaumont, TX | $57,630 | $57,620 | $27.71 | 50 |
| Provo, UT | $57,240 | $55,420 | $27.52 | 30 |
| Greenville, NC | $56,700 | $51,010 | $27.26 | 50 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $56,160 | $46,190 | $27.00 | 260 |
| Louisville, KY | $56,040 | $49,420 | $26.94 | 110 |
| Houston, TX | $55,970 | $46,110 | $26.91 | 710 |
| Pensacola, FL | $55,930 | $45,440 | $26.89 | 60 |
| Crestview, FL | $55,560 | $56,370 | $26.71 | 40 |
| Cleveland, OH | $55,520 | $45,660 | $26.69 | 180 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $55,500 | $49,740 | $26.68 | 60 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $55,200 | $48,430 | $26.54 | 60 |
| Tampa, FL | $54,910 | $51,390 | $26.40 | 660 |
| Sarasota, FL | $54,880 | $51,950 | $26.38 | 80 |
| Columbia, SC | $54,860 | $48,000 | $26.38 | 100 |
| Tyler, TX | $54,790 | $46,390 | $26.34 | 30 |
| Detroit, MI | $54,780 | $47,690 | $26.34 | 350 |
| Honolulu, HI | $54,760 | $45,750 | $26.33 | 50 |
| St. Louis, MO | $54,730 | $42,930 | $26.31 | 230 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $54,490 | $56,510 | $26.20 | 120 |
| Gainesville, FL | $54,140 | $51,580 | $26.03 | 40 |
| Little Rock, AR | $54,120 | $47,960 | $26.02 | 100 |
| Raleigh, NC | $54,010 | $45,390 | $25.97 | 180 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $53,830 | $42,140 | $25.88 | 80 |
| Boise, ID | $53,830 | $47,690 | $25.88 | 120 |
| Fort Myers, FL | $53,650 | $49,870 | $25.79 | 90 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $53,540 | $49,810 | $25.74 | 340 |
| Ocala, FL | $53,460 | $46,470 | $25.70 | 40 |
| Panama City, FL | $53,370 | $48,630 | $25.66 | 40 |
| Dayton, OH | $53,230 | $48,510 | $25.59 | 70 |
| Des Moines, IA | $53,130 | $41,110 | $25.54 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $53,090 | $42,320 | $25.52 | 60 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $53,070 | $60,090 | $25.51 | 40 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $52,750 | $44,550 | $25.36 | 140 |
| Allentown, PA | $52,640 | $50,710 | $25.31 | 50 |
| Birmingham, AL | $52,520 | $49,390 | $25.25 | 180 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $52,210 | $48,060 | $25.10 | 310 |
| Orlando, FL | $51,930 | $47,360 | $24.97 | 450 |
| Durham, NC | $51,800 | $53,610 | $24.90 | 40 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $51,450 | $41,680 | $24.73 | n/a |
| Youngstown, OH | $51,440 | $43,740 | $24.73 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $51,350 | $43,590 | $24.69 | 80 |
| Reading, PA | $51,150 | $50,200 | $24.59 | 40 |
| Worcester, MA | $51,110 | $42,720 | $24.57 | 30 |
| Davenport, IA | $51,100 | $39,960 | $24.57 | 30 |
| Portland, ME | $51,020 | $46,610 | $24.53 | 100 |
| Augusta, GA | $50,880 | $41,330 | $24.46 | 50 |
| Lakeland, FL | $50,870 | $39,690 | $24.46 | 130 |
| Asheville, NC | $50,720 | $53,900 | $24.39 | 50 |
| Gulfport, MS | $50,710 | $41,690 | $24.38 | 40 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $50,310 | $43,230 | $24.19 | 60 |
| Syracuse, NY | $50,220 | $50,730 | $24.15 | 40 |
| Omaha, NE | $50,180 | $44,100 | $24.12 | 70 |
| Kansas City, MO | $50,070 | $44,640 | $24.07 | 220 |
| Scranton, PA | $50,060 | $43,420 | $24.07 | 40 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $49,920 | $44,810 | $24.00 | 230 |
| Evansville, IN | $49,840 | $48,280 | $23.96 | 30 |
| Tulsa, OK | $49,710 | $44,340 | $23.90 | 130 |
| Savannah, GA | $49,590 | $45,960 | $23.84 | 60 |
| Lexington, KY | $49,380 | $41,930 | $23.74 | 40 |
| Montgomery, AL | $49,310 | $47,100 | $23.71 | 60 |
| Toledo, OH | $49,090 | $39,600 | $23.60 | 40 |
| Akron, OH | $49,060 | $41,420 | $23.59 | 90 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $48,730 | $39,260 | $23.43 | 60 |
| Greensboro, NC | $48,720 | $41,630 | $23.43 | 70 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $48,620 | $41,850 | $23.38 | 140 |
| Slidell, LA | $48,500 | $44,390 | $23.32 | 70 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $48,290 | $45,990 | $23.22 | 210 |
| Tucson, AZ | $48,210 | $41,450 | $23.18 | 70 |
| Wichita, KS | $48,130 | $37,940 | $23.14 | 80 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $47,980 | $42,140 | $23.07 | 50 |
| Huntsville, AL | $47,920 | $43,950 | $23.04 | 50 |
| Jackson, MS | $47,830 | $37,920 | $22.99 | 70 |
| Hickory, NC | $47,210 | $44,820 | $22.70 | 30 |
| Lansing, MI | $46,930 | $37,750 | $22.56 | 40 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $46,820 | $39,220 | $22.51 | 40 |
| Fort Smith, AR | $46,790 | $46,380 | $22.49 | 40 |
| New Orleans, LA | $46,510 | $43,500 | $22.36 | 250 |
| Charleston, SC | $46,320 | $39,060 | $22.27 | 50 |
| McAllen, TX | $46,240 | $37,090 | $22.23 | 50 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $46,130 | $42,660 | $22.18 | 80 |
| Mobile, AL | $45,890 | $47,770 | $22.06 | 60 |
| Knoxville, TN | $45,790 | $43,150 | $22.01 | 70 |
| Lubbock, TX | $45,660 | $36,640 | $21.95 | 30 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $45,410 | $37,840 | $21.83 | 140 |
| Springfield, MO | $45,020 | $38,690 | $21.64 | 60 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $44,860 | $38,500 | $21.57 | 50 |
| El Paso, TX | $44,450 | $38,070 | $21.37 | 70 |
| Columbus, GA | $42,570 | $36,750 | $20.47 | 50 |
| Shreveport, LA | $41,880 | $37,030 | $20.13 | 40 |
| Lafayette, LA | $41,870 | $39,800 | $20.13 | 100 |
| Canton, OH | $40,100 | $38,750 | $19.28 | 60 |
| San Juan, PR | $36,440 | $36,530 | $17.52 | 90 |
Related jobs
- Security GuardsU.S. average $42,470
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersU.S. average $34,470
- Protective Service Workers, All OtherU.S. average $48,070
- Animal Control WorkersU.S. average $48,440
- Crossing Guards and FlaggersU.S. average $43,350
- Transportation Security ScreenersU.S. average $64,310
- School Bus MonitorsU.S. average $35,150
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling InvestigatorsU.S. average $45,630
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Private Detectives and Investigators salary: questions
Where do private detectives and investigators make the most money?
In San Francisco, CA, with an average of $78,960 a year, among the 143 metro areas we cover.
What is the average private detectives and investigators salary in the U.S.?
$60,150 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $51,220, so half of private detectives and investigators earn more than that and half less.
What salary should private detectives and investigators ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of private detectives and investigators nationwide earn between $40,700 (25th percentile) and $73,990 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays private detectives and investigators the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $88,260 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is private detectives and investigators pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $36,440 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9021.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.