33 Series · SOC 33-9021
Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $51,220
- Median / year
- $97,630
- Top 10% earn
- +6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 35,580
- US workers
Private Detectives and Investigators earn a median of $51,220 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $51,220, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,740 (10th percentile) to $97,630 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 35,580 US workers. Oregon pays the most ($76,480), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Private Detectives and Investigators earn a median of $51,220, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 36% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #16 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2033.
- $51,220
- Median annual wage
- Top 64%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #16 of 24
- in Protective Service
- 2.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Oregon at $76,480. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Private Detectives and Investigators (SOC 33-9021) pays a national median of $51,220 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $36,740 at the 10th percentile to $97,630 at the 90th, with a mean of $60,150 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 35,580 Americans work in this occupation across 50 reporting states and 164 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 3,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 7.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Oregon pays the highest state median at $76,480, which is +49% above the national figure. The top metro is Memphis, TN-MS-AR at $99,680 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$51,220
per year
Median Hourly
$24.62/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$60,150
average
Employment
35,580
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Private Detectives and Investigators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$51,220 Bottom 36% higher than 36% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Private Detectives and Investigators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Private Detectives and Investigators sits on the faster-growing side at +6% growth and $51,220 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+6%
About average
Annual Openings
3,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
7.3/100K
Injury Rate
2.5/100
Danger Index
13.7/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Private Detectives and Investigators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
- ▸ Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
- ▸ Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
- ▸ Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
- ▸ Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
- ▸ Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
- ▸ Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
- ▸ Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
- ▸ Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
- ▸ Investigate companies' financial standings, or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$36,740
25th Percentile
$40,700
Median
$51,220
75th Percentile
$73,990
90th Percentile
$97,630
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 50 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $76,480 | +49% above national |
| 2 | Connecticut | $75,010 | +46% above national |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $72,720 | +42% above national |
| 4 | Vermont | $67,910 | +33% above national |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $65,370 | +28% above national |
| 6 | Washington | $64,080 | +25% above national |
| 7 | California | $61,250 | +20% above national |
| 8 | Arizona | $61,030 | +19% above national |
| 9 | Illinois | $60,210 | +18% above national |
| 10 | New York | $59,140 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Utah | $57,910 | +13% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $57,880 | +13% above national |
| 13 | Virginia | $56,160 | +10% above national |
| 14 | Delaware | $55,710 | +9% above national |
| 15 | New Jersey | $54,710 | +7% above national |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $54,620 | +7% above national |
| 17 | Wyoming | $54,310 | +6% above national |
| 18 | Alaska | $53,440 | +4% above national |
| 19 | North Carolina | $52,890 | +3% above national |
| 20 | Texas | $51,810 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Nebraska | $51,750 | +1% above national |
| 22 | South Carolina | $51,530 | +1% above national |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $51,200 | same as national |
| 24 | Florida | $50,640 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $50,240 | 2% below national |
| 26 | Tennessee | $49,360 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Colorado | $48,730 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Michigan | $48,650 | 5% below national |
| 29 | Idaho | $47,910 | 6% below national |
| 30 | Arkansas | $47,750 | 7% below national |
| 31 | Kentucky | $47,650 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Montana | $47,430 | 7% below national |
| 33 | Ohio | $47,200 | 8% below national |
| 34 | Alabama | $46,810 | 9% below national |
| 35 | West Virginia | $46,410 | 9% below national |
| 36 | Hawaii | $45,750 | 11% below national |
| 37 | Kansas | $45,260 | 12% below national |
| 38 | Georgia | $45,060 | 12% below national |
| 39 | South Dakota | $44,840 | 12% below national |
| 40 | North Dakota | $44,310 | 13% below national |
| 41 | Maine | $43,830 | 14% below national |
| 42 | Puerto Rico | $42,190 | 18% below national |
| 43 | Louisiana | $41,950 | 18% below national |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $41,850 | 18% below national |
| 45 | Indiana | $41,830 | 18% below national |
| 46 | Missouri | $41,600 | 19% below national |
| 47 | New Mexico | $41,600 | 19% below national |
| 48 | Iowa | $41,110 | 20% below national |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $39,680 | 23% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $39,060 | 24% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 164 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $99,680 | +95% above national |
| 2 | Salem, OR | $81,070 | +58% above national |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $78,330 | +53% above national |
| 4 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $77,540 | +51% above national |
| 5 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $76,630 | +50% above national |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,670 | +48% above national |
| 7 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $73,430 | +43% above national |
| 8 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $70,780 | +38% above national |
| 9 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $70,220 | +37% above national |
| 10 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $70,190 | +37% above national |
| 11 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,150 | +37% above national |
| 12 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $68,310 | +33% above national |
| 13 | New Haven, CT | $65,030 | +27% above national |
| 14 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $64,400 | +26% above national |
| 15 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $64,080 | +25% above national |
| 16 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,060 | +25% above national |
| 17 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $63,940 | +25% above national |
| 18 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $62,520 | +22% above national |
| 19 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $62,300 | +22% above national |
| 20 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,680 | +20% above national |
| 21 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $61,460 | +20% above national |
| 22 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $61,460 | +20% above national |
| 23 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $60,910 | +19% above national |
| 24 | Corpus Christi, TX | $60,090 | +17% above national |
| 25 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $59,770 | +17% above national |
| 26 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,490 | +16% above national |
| 27 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $59,350 | +16% above national |
| 28 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $59,140 | +15% above national |
| 29 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $58,990 | +15% above national |
| 30 | Modesto, CA | $58,460 | +14% above national |
| 31 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,170 | +14% above national |
| 32 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $57,910 | +13% above national |
| 33 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,880 | +13% above national |
| 34 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $57,620 | +12% above national |
| 35 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $56,760 | +11% above national |
| 36 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $56,530 | +10% above national |
| 37 | Tallahassee, FL | $56,510 | +10% above national |
| 38 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $56,370 | +10% above national |
| 39 | Ogden, UT | $55,450 | +8% above national |
| 40 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $55,420 | +8% above national |
| 41 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $54,720 | +7% above national |
| 42 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $54,680 | +7% above national |
| 43 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $53,930 | +5% above national |
| 44 | Asheville, NC | $53,900 | +5% above national |
| 45 | Lincoln, NE | $53,800 | +5% above national |
| 46 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $53,680 | +5% above national |
| 47 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $53,610 | +5% above national |
| 48 | Richmond, VA | $52,430 | +2% above national |
| 49 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $52,000 | +2% above national |
| 50 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $51,950 | +1% above national |
| 51 | Columbus, OH | $51,780 | +1% above national |
| 52 | Gainesville, FL | $51,580 | +1% above national |
| 53 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $51,390 | same as national |
| 54 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,130 | same as national |
| 55 | Greenville, NC | $51,010 | same as national |
| 56 | Syracuse, NY | $50,730 | 1% below national |
| 57 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $50,710 | 1% below national |
| 58 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $50,540 | 1% below national |
| 59 | Rochester, NY | $50,510 | 1% below national |
| 60 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,220 | 2% below national |
| 61 | Reading, PA | $50,200 | 2% below national |
| 62 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $49,870 | 3% below national |
| 63 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,810 | 3% below national |
| 64 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $49,740 | 3% below national |
| 65 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $49,420 | 4% below national |
| 66 | Birmingham, AL | $49,390 | 4% below national |
| 67 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $49,250 | 4% below national |
| 68 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,650 | 5% below national |
| 69 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $48,630 | 5% below national |
| 70 | Vallejo, CA | $48,600 | 5% below national |
| 71 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $48,510 | 5% below national |
| 72 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $48,430 | 5% below national |
| 73 | Evansville, IN | $48,280 | 6% below national |
| 74 | Jacksonville, FL | $48,060 | 6% below national |
| 75 | Columbia, SC | $48,000 | 6% below national |
| 76 | Visalia, CA | $47,970 | 6% below national |
| 77 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $47,960 | 6% below national |
| 78 | Mobile, AL | $47,770 | 7% below national |
| 79 | Boise City, ID | $47,690 | 7% below national |
| 80 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $47,690 | 7% below national |
| 81 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,360 | 8% below national |
| 82 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $47,310 | 8% below national |
| 83 | Montgomery, AL | $47,100 | 8% below national |
| 84 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $46,850 | 9% below national |
| 85 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $46,610 | 9% below national |
| 86 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $46,560 | 9% below national |
| 87 | Ocala, FL | $46,470 | 9% below national |
| 88 | Tyler, TX | $46,390 | 9% below national |
| 89 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $46,380 | 9% below national |
| 90 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $46,190 | 10% below national |
| 91 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $46,190 | 10% below national |
| 92 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,110 | 10% below national |
| 93 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $45,990 | 10% below national |
| 94 | Savannah, GA | $45,960 | 10% below national |
| 95 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,750 | 11% below national |
| 96 | Cleveland, OH | $45,660 | 11% below national |
| 97 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $45,440 | 11% below national |
| 98 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,390 | 11% below national |
| 99 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $45,160 | 12% below national |
| 100 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $45,080 | 12% below national |
| 101 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $45,060 | 12% below national |
| 102 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $45,060 | 12% below national |
| 103 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $44,990 | 12% below national |
| 104 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $44,890 | 12% below national |
| 105 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $44,820 | 12% below national |
| 106 | Baton Rouge, LA | $44,810 | 13% below national |
| 107 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $44,640 | 13% below national |
| 108 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $44,550 | 13% below national |
| 109 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $44,390 | 13% below national |
| 110 | Tulsa, OK | $44,340 | 13% below national |
| 111 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $44,220 | 14% below national |
| 112 | Omaha, NE-IA | $44,100 | 14% below national |
| 113 | Huntsville, AL | $43,950 | 14% below national |
| 114 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $43,890 | 14% below national |
| 115 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $43,830 | 14% below national |
| 116 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $43,740 | 15% below national |
| 117 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,740 | 15% below national |
| 118 | Fresno, CA | $43,590 | 15% below national |
| 119 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $43,500 | 15% below national |
| 120 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $43,420 | 15% below national |
| 121 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,230 | 16% below national |
| 122 | Knoxville, TN | $43,150 | 16% below national |
| 123 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $42,930 | 16% below national |
| 124 | Worcester, MA | $42,720 | 17% below national |
| 125 | Winston-Salem, NC | $42,660 | 17% below national |
| 126 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $42,610 | 17% below national |
| 127 | Madison, WI | $42,320 | 17% below national |
| 128 | Colorado Springs, CO | $42,140 | 18% below national |
| 129 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $42,140 | 18% below national |
| 130 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $41,930 | 18% below national |
| 131 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $41,850 | 18% below national |
| 132 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $41,690 | 19% below national |
| 133 | Albuquerque, NM | $41,680 | 19% below national |
| 134 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $41,630 | 19% below national |
| 135 | Tucson, AZ | $41,450 | 19% below national |
| 136 | Akron, OH | $41,420 | 19% below national |
| 137 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $41,330 | 19% below national |
| 138 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $41,200 | 20% below national |
| 139 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $41,110 | 20% below national |
| 140 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $39,960 | 22% below national |
| 141 | Lafayette, LA | $39,800 | 22% below national |
| 142 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $39,690 | 23% below national |
| 143 | Toledo, OH | $39,600 | 23% below national |
| 144 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $39,260 | 23% below national |
| 145 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,220 | 23% below national |
| 146 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $39,150 | 24% below national |
| 147 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $39,060 | 24% below national |
| 148 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $39,060 | 24% below national |
| 149 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $39,050 | 24% below national |
| 150 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $38,750 | 24% below national |
| 151 | Springfield, MO | $38,690 | 24% below national |
| 152 | Fayetteville, NC | $38,500 | 25% below national |
| 153 | El Paso, TX | $38,070 | 26% below national |
| 154 | Wichita, KS | $37,940 | 26% below national |
| 155 | Jackson, MS | $37,920 | 26% below national |
| 156 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,840 | 26% below national |
| 157 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $37,750 | 26% below national |
| 158 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $37,210 | 27% below national |
| 159 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,170 | 27% below national |
| 160 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $37,090 | 28% below national |
| 161 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $37,030 | 28% below national |
| 162 | Columbus, GA-AL | $36,750 | 28% below national |
| 163 | Lubbock, TX | $36,640 | 28% below national |
| 164 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $36,530 | 29% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Private Detectives and Investigators make? ▼
What state pays Private Detectives and Investigators the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Private Detectives and Investigators? ▼
How dangerous is being a Private Detectives and Investigators? ▼
Is Private Detectives and Investigators a good career? ▼
How does Private Detectives and Investigators pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Private Detectives and Investigators? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Private Detectives and Investigators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $73,990/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Oregon leads at $76,480/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.