Private Detectives and Investigators Pay Range in Missouri
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$33,660
- 25th Percentile — Junior$37,480
- 50th Percentile — Median$41,600
- 75th Percentile — Senior$51,880
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$67,720
Half of Private Detectives and Investigators in Missouri earn more than $41,600. The top 10% make $67,720 or more, while entry-level workers start around $33,660.
Private Detectives and Investigators in Missouri: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Missouri ranks 44th of 49 states for Private Detectives and Investigators pay, at $48,150 per year (20.0% below the U.S. average of $60,150).
- 590 people work as Private Detectives and Investigators in Missouri — 1.7% of all U.S. Private Detectives and Investigators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.87: Private Detectives and Investigators jobs are less concentrated in Missouri than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,660; the top 10% earn over $67,720.
- Hourly equivalent: $23.15 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $88,260.
- Among public safety jobs in Missouri, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($91,070).
Private Detectives and Investigators Job Market in Missouri
Key factors affecting compensation
Missouri's key industries are Healthcare, Finance, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Private Detectives and Investigators here earn $48,150 on average, placing the state 44th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a Missouri salary of $48,150 is roughly equivalent to $55,345 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Indiana ($49,080), Alabama ($48,750), Maine ($48,590) 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
Other Public Safety Jobs in Missouri
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $91,070/yr Missouri +89.1% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $85,720/yr Missouri +78.0% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $82,110/yr Missouri +70.5% vs this role
- Police Officers $62,520/yr Missouri +29.8% vs this role
- Firefighters $55,240/yr Missouri +14.7% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $46,230/yr Missouri 4.0% vs this role
- Security Guards $45,100/yr Missouri 6.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Missouri?
The average Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Missouri is $48,150 per year (median $41,600), which is 20.0% below the national average of $60,150.
How does Missouri rank for Private Detectives and Investigators pay?
Missouri ranks 44th 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 Missouri?
The lowest-paid 10% of Private Detectives and Investigators in Missouri earn about $33,660 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,480.
How much do Private Detectives and Investigators make per hour in Missouri?
About $23.15 per hour, based on the $48,150 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Private Detectives and Investigators work in Missouri?
BLS counts 590 Private Detectives and Investigators jobs in Missouri (OEWS May 2025).
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