Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $119,330 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Boston earn between $45,570 and $89,180.
- $40K10th
- $46K25th
- $61KMedian
- $89K75th
- $119K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,520 | $5,877 | $33.90 |
| Median | $60,910 | $5,076 | $29.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,570 | $3,798 | $21.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,180 | $7,432 | $42.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($70,110) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $70,520 | $60,910 | $40,350 | $119,330 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $70,110 | $50,240 | $40,250 | $121,090 | 280 |
| United States | $60,150 | $51,220 | $36,740 | $97,630 | 35,580 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $70,520, a single filer in Boston takes home about $55,235 a year, or $4,603 a month and $2,124 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $58,441 | $4,870 |
| Working in MA | $55,235 | $4,603 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $70,520 buys what about $65,136 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$70,520
- Worcester$51,110
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Massachusetts
Highest-paying cities for private detectives and investigators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($78,960).
- San Francisco, CA$78,960
- Salem, OR$78,540
- Memphis, TN$78,160
- Portland, OR$77,440
- Seattle, WA$77,230
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Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Boston: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Boston?
$33.90 an hour on average, and $29.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Boston?
About $55,235 a year ($4,603 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,520. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,150).
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; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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