Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in California
Private detectives and investigators in California earned a median of $61,250 a year ($29.45 an hour) and a mean of $67,040 in May 2025. The median is 19.6% above the U.S. median of $51,220, ranking 7th of 50 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $61,250
- Median hourly
- $29.45
- Mean annual
- $67,040
- Jobs on record
- 4,190
Grey needle: U.S. median, $51,220 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does California compare on pay for private detectives and investigators?
California ranks 7th of 50 states and territories. Oregon is highest at $76,480, $15,230 more than the California median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 5 | $65,370 | +28% | 280 |
| Washington | 6 | $64,080 | +25% | 750 |
| California | 7 | $61,250 | +20% | 4,190 |
| Arizona | 8 | $61,030 | +19% | 790 |
| Illinois | 9 | $60,210 | +18% | 1,300 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 50 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does California pay go further after prices?
Prices in California run 10.7% above the U.S. average, so the $61,250 median buys about what $55,320 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $51,220 U.S. median. On this measure California ranks 16th of 49, down from 7th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in California pay private detectives and investigators the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is highest at $70,150, 14.5% above the California median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,150 | 430 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,060 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,680 | 1,520 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,490 | 420 |
| Modesto, CA | $58,460 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,170 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,130 | 350 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,220 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,650 | 280 |
| Vallejo, CA | $48,600 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,970 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $43,590 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,230 | 60 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in California is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many private detectives and investigators work in California?
BLS counts 4,190 jobs in California, 11.8% of the 35,580 in the U.S. That is the largest count among the 48 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in California, a location quotient of 1.01: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.01 times its national share, so it is about as concentrated here as in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the California minimum wage compare with pay for private detectives and investigators?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for private detectives and investigators in California was $20.48 in May 2025, $3.58 above the $16.90 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in California
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.