BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Private Detectives and Investigators in Delaware

$59,230 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$28.48 per hour

▼ 1.5% below U.S. average21st of 49 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$59,230per year
Median$55,710per year
Hourly$28.48per hour
10th – 90th percentile$40,400 – $80,700per year

Private Detectives and Investigators Pay Range in Delaware

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$40,400
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$47,520
  • 50th Percentile — Median$55,710
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$67,800
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$80,700

Half of Private Detectives and Investigators in Delaware earn more than $55,710. The top 10% make $80,700 or more, while entry-level workers start around $40,400.

Private Detectives and Investigators in Delaware: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Delaware ranks 21st of 49 states for Private Detectives and Investigators pay, at $59,230 per year (1.5% below the U.S. average of $60,150).
  • 110 people work as Private Detectives and Investigators in Delaware — 0.3% of all U.S. Private Detectives and Investigators jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.01: Private Detectives and Investigators jobs are more concentrated in Delaware than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,400; the top 10% earn over $80,700.
  • Hourly equivalent: $28.48 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $88,260.
  • Among public safety jobs in Delaware, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($137,020).

Private Detectives and Investigators Job Market in Delaware

Key factors affecting compensation

Delaware's key industries are Finance, Chemicals, Healthcare, and its job market is rated strong. Private Detectives and Investigators here earn $59,230 on average, placing the state 21st nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Delaware salary of $59,230 is roughly equivalent to $56,410 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Carolina ($61,350), Rhode Island ($60,960), Pennsylvania ($59,880) are the closest alternatives for Private Detectives and Investigators weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Delaware?

The average Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Delaware is $59,230 per year (median $55,710), which is 1.5% below the national average of $60,150.

How does Delaware rank for Private Detectives and Investigators pay?

Delaware ranks 21st out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($88,260/yr).

How much do entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators make in Delaware?

The lowest-paid 10% of Private Detectives and Investigators in Delaware earn about $40,400 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,520.

How much do Private Detectives and Investigators make per hour in Delaware?

About $28.48 per hour, based on the $59,230 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Private Detectives and Investigators work in Delaware?

BLS counts 110 Private Detectives and Investigators jobs in Delaware (OEWS May 2025).

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