📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$66,260
per year
Median
$58,280
per year
Hourly
$31.86
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$39,590
25th Percentile — Junior$55,190
50th Percentile — Median$58,280
75th Percentile — Senior$90,290
90th Percentile — Top Earners$104,595
💡 The top 10% of Private Detectives and Investigatorss earn $104,595 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $39,590, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$58.6k
2021
$60.0k
2022
$61.5k
2023
$63.1k
2024
$64.6k
2025
$66.3k
2026
📈 Private Detectives and Investigators salaries have grown 2.5% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $7,696.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $102,703 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $100,715 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $94,089 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $91,439 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $87,463 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $86,138 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $84,813 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $82,825 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $80,837 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $76,199 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $76,199 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $75,536 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $74,211 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $72,886 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $72,886 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $71,561 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $69,573 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $69,573 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $67,585 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $67,585 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $66,260 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $66,260 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $65,597 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $65,597 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $64,935 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $62,947 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $62,947 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $61,622 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $61,622 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $61,622 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $60,959 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $60,959 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $60,297 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $59,634 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $58,309 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $58,309 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $58,309 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $58,309 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $58,309 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $58,309 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $57,646 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $57,646 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $57,646 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $56,984 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $56,321 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $56,321 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $55,658 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $54,996 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $54,996 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $53,008 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $51,683 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Private Detectives and Investigators Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Private Detectives and Investigators's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigatorss typically earn $39,590–$55,190 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $90,290–$104,595 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Private Detectives and Investigators role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 2.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Public Safety sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
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$95,280/yr
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Security Guards
$40,280/yr
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First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting
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Registered Nurses
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+53.1% vs this role
Nurse Practitioners
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Private Detectives and Investigators?The average salary for a Private Detectives and Investigators in the United States is $66,260 per year, with a median of $58,280.
-
What is the starting salary for a Private Detectives and Investigators?Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigatorss typically earn between $39,590 and $55,190 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Private Detectives and Investigatorss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Private Detectives and Investigatorss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
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How much does a Private Detectives and Investigators make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $66,260, a Private Detectives and Investigators earns approximately $31.86 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Private Detectives and Investigators a good career in 2026?Yes — the Private Detectives and Investigators role has medium demand with 2.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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