Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for private detectives and investigators is $51,220, or $24.62 per hour. About 35,580 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $76,480 in Oregon to $39,060 in Mississippi.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 49 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $76,480 | $36.77 | 610 | 1.35 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $75,010 | $36.06 | 400 | 1.03 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $72,720 | $34.96 | — | — |
| 4 | Vermont | $67,910 | $32.65 | 90 | 1.28 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $65,370 | $31.43 | 280 | 1.81 |
| 6 | Washington | $64,080 | $30.81 | 750 | 0.92 |
| 7 | California | $61,250 | $29.45 | 4,190 | 1.01 |
| 8 | Arizona | $61,030 | $29.34 | 790 | 1.07 |
| 9 | Illinois | $60,210 | $28.95 | 1,300 | 0.93 |
| 10 | New York | $59,140 | $28.43 | 1,300 | 0.59 |
| 11 | Utah | $57,910 | $27.84 | 350 | 0.89 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $57,880 | $27.83 | 600 | 0.88 |
| 13 | Virginia | $56,160 | $27.00 | 1,280 | 1.36 |
| 14 | Delaware | $55,710 | $26.78 | 110 | 1.01 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $54,710 | $26.31 | 410 | 0.42 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $54,620 | $26.26 | 60 | 0.49 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $54,310 | $26.11 | 40 | 0.56 |
| 18 | Alaska | $53,440 | $25.69 | 70 | 0.97 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $52,890 | $25.43 | 1,710 | 1.51 |
| 20 | Texas | $51,810 | $24.91 | 3,220 | 1.00 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $51,750 | $24.88 | 160 | 0.69 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $51,530 | $24.78 | 620 | 1.17 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $51,200 | $24.62 | 1,220 | 0.88 |
| 24 | Florida | $50,640 | $24.35 | 3,660 | 1.61 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $50,240 | $24.15 | 280 | 0.34 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $49,360 | $23.73 | 940 | 1.26 |
| 27 | Colorado | $48,730 | $23.43 | 540 | 0.82 |
| 28 | Michigan | $48,650 | $23.39 | 850 | 0.85 |
| 29 | Idaho | $47,910 | $23.03 | 210 | 1.09 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $47,750 | $22.96 | 370 | 1.23 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $47,650 | $22.91 | 350 | 0.76 |
| 32 | Montana | $47,430 | $22.80 | 70 | 0.56 |
| 33 | Ohio | $47,200 | $22.69 | 1,560 | 1.23 |
| 34 | Alabama | $46,810 | $22.50 | 530 | 1.10 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $46,410 | $22.31 | 170 | 1.03 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $45,750 | $21.99 | 70 | 0.46 |
| 37 | Kansas | $45,260 | $21.76 | 280 | 0.86 |
| 38 | Georgia | $45,060 | $21.66 | 1,460 | 1.30 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $44,840 | $21.56 | 60 | 0.56 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $44,310 | $21.30 | 60 | 0.56 |
| 41 | Maine | $43,830 | $21.07 | 210 | 1.40 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $41,950 | $20.17 | 860 | 1.94 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $41,850 | $20.12 | 410 | 0.61 |
| 44 | Indiana | $41,830 | $20.11 | 480 | 0.66 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $41,600 | $20.00 | — | — |
| 46 | Missouri | $41,600 | $20.00 | 590 | 0.87 |
| 47 | Iowa | $41,110 | $19.77 | 170 | 0.48 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $39,680 | $19.08 | 370 | 0.96 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,060 | $18.78 | 330 | 1.22 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make?
The median annual wage for private detectives and investigators in the United States is $51,220, or $24.62 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $36,740, and the top 10% earn $97,630.
How many private detectives and investigators are employed in the U.S.?
About 35,580 people work as private detectives and investigators nationwide.
Which state pays private detectives and investigators the most?
Oregon pays the most at a median of $76,480, followed by Connecticut ($75,010) and District of Columbia ($72,720).
Which state pays private detectives and investigators the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $39,060.
Where are private detectives and investigators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Louisiana at 1.94×.