Private Detectives and Investigators · Texas

Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Texas

Private Detectives and Investigators in Texas earn a median annual wage of $51,810 —1.2% above the national median of $51,220. That ranks TX #20 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$51,810
Median hourly
$24.91
Entry level (P10)
$35,650
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$99,930
90th percentile
Employment
3,220
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+1.2%
U.S. $51,220

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$35,650
$36,810
$51,810
$72,660
$35,650$51,810$99,930
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $51,810.

Employment concentration (1.00×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for private detectives and investigators

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. Texas is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Oregon$76,480$36.776101.35
2Connecticut$75,010$36.064001.03
3District of Columbia$72,720$34.96——
4Vermont$67,910$32.65901.28
5New Hampshire$65,370$31.432801.81
6Washington$64,080$30.817500.92
7California$61,250$29.454,1901.01
8Arizona$61,030$29.347901.07
9Illinois$60,210$28.951,3000.93
10New York$59,140$28.431,3000.59

Related occupations in Texas

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Texas.

Frequently asked questions

How much do private detectives and investigators make in Texas?

The median annual wage for private detectives and investigators in Texas is $51,810, or $24.91 per hour. That is 1.2% above the national median of $51,220.

What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Texas?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,650 per year ($17.14/hour). The 25th percentile is $36,810.

How many people work as private detectives and investigators in Texas?

About 3,220 people work in this occupation in Texas, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Texas a good state for private detectives and investigators?

Texas ranks #20 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.00x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays private detectives and investigators the most?

Oregon has the highest median wage at $76,480 per year, followed by Connecticut ($75,010) and District of Columbia ($72,720).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes