Private Detectives and Investigators salary by location
National median: $51,220 (2025 OEWS). Percentages below describe each area's published median against that national figure.
| Location | Type | Median | vs national | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | metropolitan | $99,680 | +94.6% | 310 | 2025 |
| Salem, OR | metropolitan | $81,070 | +58.3% | 180 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | metropolitan | $78,330 | +52.9% | 270 | 2025 |
| Hartford, CT | metropolitan | $77,540 | +51.4% | 150 | 2025 |
| Waterbury, CT | metropolitan | $76,630 | +49.6% | 50 | 2025 |
| OR | state | $76,480 | +49.3% | 610 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | metropolitan | $75,670 | +47.7% | 430 | 2025 |
| CT | state | $75,010 | +46.4% | 400 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | metropolitan | $73,430 | +43.4% | 860 | 2025 |
| DC | state | $72,720 | +42.0% | — | 2025 |
| Manchester, NH | metropolitan | $70,780 | +38.2% | 100 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | metropolitan | $70,220 | +37.1% | 410 | 2025 |
| Burlington, VT | metropolitan | $70,190 | +37.0% | 50 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | metropolitan | $70,150 | +37.0% | 430 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | metropolitan | $68,310 | +33.4% | 970 | 2025 |
| VT | state | $67,910 | +32.6% | 90 | 2025 |
| NH | state | $65,370 | +27.6% | 280 | 2025 |
| New Haven, CT | metropolitan | $65,030 | +27.0% | 70 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | metropolitan | $64,400 | +25.7% | 610 | 2025 |
| WA | state | $64,080 | +25.1% | 750 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | metropolitan | $64,080 | +25.1% | 60 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | metropolitan | $64,060 | +25.1% | 190 | 2025 |
| Eugene, OR | metropolitan | $63,940 | +24.8% | 30 | 2025 |
| Fort Collins, CO | metropolitan | $62,520 | +22.1% | 40 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | metropolitan | $62,300 | +21.6% | 790 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | metropolitan | $61,680 | +20.4% | 1,520 | 2025 |
| Spokane, WA | metropolitan | $61,460 | +20.0% | 90 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | metropolitan | $61,460 | +20.0% | 1,070 | 2025 |
| CA | state | $61,250 | +19.6% | 4,190 | 2025 |
| AZ | state | $61,030 | +19.2% | 790 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | metropolitan | $60,910 | +18.9% | 230 | 2025 |
| IL | state | $60,210 | +17.6% | 1,300 | 2025 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | metropolitan | $60,090 | +17.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| Harrisburg, PA | metropolitan | $59,770 | +16.7% | 80 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | metropolitan | $59,490 | +16.1% | 420 | 2025 |
| Deltona, FL | metropolitan | $59,350 | +15.9% | 120 | 2025 |
| NY | state | $59,140 | +15.5% | 1,300 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | metropolitan | $59,140 | +15.5% | 1,040 | 2025 |
| Modesto, CA | metropolitan | $58,460 | +14.1% | 30 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | metropolitan | $58,170 | +13.6% | 80 | 2025 |
| UT | state | $57,910 | +13.1% | 350 | 2025 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | metropolitan | $57,910 | +13.1% | 240 | 2025 |
| MN | state | $57,880 | +13.0% | 600 | 2025 |
| Beaumont, TX | metropolitan | $57,620 | +12.5% | 50 | 2025 |
| San Antonio, TX | metropolitan | $56,760 | +10.8% | 260 | 2025 |
| Olympia, WA | metropolitan | $56,530 | +10.4% | 30 | 2025 |
| Tallahassee, FL | metropolitan | $56,510 | +10.3% | 120 | 2025 |
| Crestview, FL | metropolitan | $56,370 | +10.1% | 40 | 2025 |
| VA | state | $56,160 | +9.6% | 1,280 | 2025 |
| DE | state | $55,710 | +8.8% | 110 | 2025 |
| Ogden, UT | metropolitan | $55,450 | +8.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| Provo, UT | metropolitan | $55,420 | +8.2% | 30 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | metropolitan | $54,720 | +6.8% | 1,030 | 2025 |
| NJ | state | $54,710 | +6.8% | 410 | 2025 |
| RI | state | $54,620 | +6.6% | 60 | 2025 |
| WY | state | $54,310 | +6.0% | 40 | 2025 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | metropolitan | $53,930 | +5.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| Asheville, NC | metropolitan | $53,900 | +5.2% | 50 | 2025 |
| Lincoln, NE | metropolitan | $53,800 | +5.0% | 30 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | metropolitan | $53,680 | +4.8% | 450 | 2025 |
| Durham, NC | metropolitan | $53,610 | +4.7% | 40 | 2025 |
| AK | state | $53,440 | +4.3% | 70 | 2025 |
| NC | state | $52,890 | +3.3% | 1,710 | 2025 |
| Richmond, VA | metropolitan | $52,430 | +2.4% | 130 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | metropolitan | $52,000 | +1.5% | 340 | 2025 |
| North Port, FL | metropolitan | $51,950 | +1.4% | 80 | 2025 |
| TX | state | $51,810 | +1.2% | 3,220 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | metropolitan | $51,780 | +1.1% | 390 | 2025 |
| NE | state | $51,750 | +1.0% | 160 | 2025 |
| Gainesville, FL | metropolitan | $51,580 | +0.7% | 40 | 2025 |
| SC | state | $51,530 | +0.6% | 620 | 2025 |
| Tampa, FL | metropolitan | $51,390 | +0.3% | 660 | 2025 |
| PA | state | $51,200 | −0.0% | 1,220 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | metropolitan | $51,130 | −0.2% | 350 | 2025 |
| Greenville, NC | metropolitan | $51,010 | −0.4% | 50 | 2025 |
| Syracuse, NY | metropolitan | $50,730 | −1.0% | 40 | 2025 |
| Allentown, PA | metropolitan | $50,710 | −1.0% | 50 | 2025 |
| FL | state | $50,640 | −1.1% | 3,660 | 2025 |
| Buffalo, NY | metropolitan | $50,540 | −1.3% | 80 | 2025 |
| Rochester, NY | metropolitan | $50,510 | −1.4% | 90 | 2025 |
| MA | state | $50,240 | −1.9% | 280 | 2025 |
| Stockton, CA | metropolitan | $50,220 | −2.0% | 80 | 2025 |
| Reading, PA | metropolitan | $50,200 | −2.0% | 40 | 2025 |
| Cape Coral, FL | metropolitan | $49,870 | −2.6% | 90 | 2025 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | metropolitan | $49,810 | −2.8% | 340 | 2025 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | metropolitan | $49,740 | −2.9% | 60 | 2025 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | metropolitan | $49,420 | −3.5% | 110 | 2025 |
| Birmingham, AL | metropolitan | $49,390 | −3.6% | 180 | 2025 |
| TN | state | $49,360 | −3.6% | 940 | 2025 |
| CO | state | $48,730 | −4.9% | 540 | 2025 |
| MI | state | $48,650 | −5.0% | 850 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | metropolitan | $48,650 | −5.0% | 280 | 2025 |
| Panama City, FL | metropolitan | $48,630 | −5.1% | 40 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | metropolitan | $48,600 | −5.1% | 40 | 2025 |
| Dayton, OH | metropolitan | $48,510 | −5.3% | 70 | 2025 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | metropolitan | $48,430 | −5.4% | 60 | 2025 |
| Evansville, IN | metropolitan | $48,280 | −5.7% | 30 | 2025 |
| Jacksonville, FL | metropolitan | $48,060 | −6.2% | 310 | 2025 |
| Columbia, SC | metropolitan | $48,000 | −6.3% | 100 | 2025 |
| Visalia, CA | metropolitan | $47,970 | −6.3% | 50 | 2025 |