Private Detectives and Investigatorssalary
Official wage statistics for private detectives and investigators in United States, published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)), reference period May 2025. Approximately 35.58K people work in this occupation.
Wage distribution
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / lowest decile | $36,740 |
| 25th percentilelower quartile | $40,700 |
| Median (50th)typical worker | $51,220 |
| 75th percentileupper quartile | $73,990 |
| 90th percentiletop decile | $97,630 |
| Meanaverage, skews high | $60,150 |
Salary by state
Private Detectives and Investigators wages vary widely by state. Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, May 2025, sorted by median. Suppressed areas omitted.
| State | Median (annual) | P10–P90 / low–high | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| OROregon | $76,480 | $44,610 – $97,500 | 610 |
| CTConnecticut | $75,010 | $38,300 – $95,790 | 400 |
| DCDistrict of Columbia | $72,720 | $45,790 – $156,670 | — |
| VTVermont | $67,910 | $41,860 – $95,830 | 90 |
| NHNew Hampshire | $65,370 | $40,510 – $124,150 | 280 |
| WAWashington | $64,080 | $43,060 – $104,220 | 750 |
| CACalifornia | $61,250 | $42,600 – $103,410 | 4,190 |
| AZArizona | $61,030 | $38,240 – $92,160 | 790 |
| ILIllinois | $60,210 | $38,920 – $97,780 | 1,300 |
| NYNew York | $59,140 | $40,940 – $103,610 | 1,300 |
| UTUtah | $57,910 | $38,690 – $89,900 | 350 |
| MNMinnesota | $57,880 | $40,520 – $101,360 | 600 |
| VAVirginia | $56,160 | $35,530 – $95,000 | 1,280 |
| DEDelaware | $55,710 | $40,400 – $80,700 | 110 |
| NJNew Jersey | $54,710 | $39,980 – $103,750 | 410 |
| RIRhode Island | $54,620 | $37,560 – $79,140 | 60 |
| WYWyoming | $54,310 | $40,550 – $80,120 | 40 |
| AKAlaska | $53,440 | $39,620 – $105,970 | 70 |
| NCNorth Carolina | $52,890 | $36,600 – $98,560 | 1,710 |
| TXTexas | $51,810 | $35,650 – $99,930 | 3,220 |
| NENebraska | $51,750 | $38,950 – $89,480 | 160 |
| SCSouth Carolina | $51,530 | $37,000 – $93,740 | 620 |
| PAPennsylvania | $51,200 | $38,380 – $91,470 | 1,220 |
| FLFlorida | $50,640 | $35,990 – $85,830 | 3,660 |
| MAMassachusetts | $50,240 | $40,250 – $121,090 | 280 |
| TNTennessee | $49,360 | $33,930 – $101,030 | 940 |
| COColorado | $48,730 | $41,110 – $86,430 | 540 |
| MIMichigan | $48,650 | $36,360 – $87,420 | 850 |
| IDIdaho | $47,910 | $39,520 – $69,710 | 210 |
| ARArkansas | $47,750 | $35,990 – $107,930 | 370 |
| KYKentucky | $47,650 | $37,340 – $70,150 | 350 |
| MTMontana | $47,430 | $39,900 – $73,190 | 70 |
| OHOhio | $47,200 | $37,460 – $84,930 | 1,560 |
| ALAlabama | $46,810 | $35,990 – $61,420 | 530 |
| WVWest Virginia | $46,410 | $35,990 – $78,560 | 170 |
| HIHawaii | $45,750 | $41,830 – $83,050 | 70 |
| KSKansas | $45,260 | $35,810 – $76,520 | 280 |
| GAGeorgia | $45,060 | $36,570 – $96,680 | 1,460 |
| SDSouth Dakota | $44,840 | $40,050 – $49,560 | 60 |
| NDNorth Dakota | $44,310 | $32,710 – $61,320 | 60 |
| MEMaine | $43,830 | $36,550 – $67,230 | 210 |
| PRPuerto Rico | $42,190 | $21,840 – $47,430 | 120 |
| LALouisiana | $41,950 | $35,000 – $67,690 | 860 |
| WIWisconsin | $41,850 | $37,000 – $76,550 | 410 |
| INIndiana | $41,830 | $36,500 – $77,000 | 480 |
| MOMissouri | $41,600 | $33,660 – $67,720 | 590 |
| NMNew Mexico | $41,600 | $35,660 – $66,350 | — |
| IAIowa | $41,110 | $36,920 – $64,080 | 170 |
| OKOklahoma | $39,680 | $36,050 – $62,690 | 370 |
| MSMississippi | $39,060 | $31,800 – $69,170 | 330 |
Frequently asked
The median private detectives and investigators in United States earns $51,220 per year (reference period May 2025). Earnings typically range from $36,740 (10th percentile or low) to $97,630 (90th percentile or high). These are official statistics published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (SOC 2018 code 33-9021). FedSalary republishes official statistics only; no self-reported or crowdsourced figures. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 35,580 people employed in this occupation in United States (May 2025).
Approximately EUR 46,564 · GBP 40,331 per year (mid-market snapshot 2026-05-02). The authoritative native figure is $51,220. FX conversion is informational only.