Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for private detectives and investigators in the U.S. is $51,220 ($24.62 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $51,220
- Mean annual wage
- $60,150
- Median hourly wage
- $24.62
- Employment
- 35,580
35,580 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| 25th percentile | $40,700 | $19.57 |
| Median (50th) | $51,220 | $24.62 |
| 75th percentile | $73,990 | $35.57 |
| 90th percentile | $97,630 | $46.94 |
Highest-paying states for private detectives and investigators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $76,480 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 | 400 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 | — |
| Vermont | $67,910 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 | 280 |
| Washington | $64,080 | 750 |
| California | $61,250 | 4,190 |
| Arizona | $61,030 | 790 |
| Illinois | $60,210 | 1,300 |
| New York | $59,140 | 1,300 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $39,060 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $39,680 median annual wage
- Iowa: $41,110 median annual wage
- New Mexico: $41,600 median annual wage
- Missouri: $41,600 median annual wage
About this occupation
Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.
Typical tasks
- Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
- Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
- Alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations.
- Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
- Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
- Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.9% |
| Some college, no degree | 20.3% |
| Associate's degree | 11.1% |
| Bachelor's degree | 37.3% |
| Master's degree | 14.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 3.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Security Guards$38,020
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,210
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$58,940
- Firefighters$59,280
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,040
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators$93,790
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$93,530
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.