Private detectives and investigators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $51,220 | $24.62 |
| Mean (average) | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| 90th percentile | $97,630 | $46.94 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Private detectives and investigators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,810 | $35,990 | $61,420 | 530 | 1.1 |
| Alaska | $53,440 | $39,620 | $105,970 | 70 | 0.97 |
| Arizona | $61,030 | $38,240 | $92,160 | 790 | 1.07 |
| Arkansas | $47,750 | $35,990 | $107,930 | 370 | 1.23 |
| California | $61,250 | $42,600 | $103,410 | 4,190 | 1.01 |
| Colorado | $48,730 | $41,110 | $86,430 | 540 | 0.82 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 | $38,300 | $95,790 | 400 | 1.03 |
| Delaware | $55,710 | $40,400 | $80,700 | 110 | 1.01 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 | $45,790 | $156,670 | ||
| Florida | $50,640 | $35,990 | $85,830 | 3,660 | 1.61 |
| Georgia | $45,060 | $36,570 | $96,680 | 1,460 | 1.3 |
| Hawaii | $45,750 | $41,830 | $83,050 | 70 | 0.46 |
| Idaho | $47,910 | $39,520 | $69,710 | 210 | 1.09 |
| Illinois | $60,210 | $38,920 | $97,780 | 1,300 | 0.93 |
| Indiana | $41,830 | $36,500 | $77,000 | 480 | 0.66 |
| Iowa | $41,110 | $36,920 | $64,080 | 170 | 0.48 |
| Kansas | $45,260 | $35,810 | $76,520 | 280 | 0.86 |
| Kentucky | $47,650 | $37,340 | $70,150 | 350 | 0.76 |
| Louisiana | $41,950 | $35,000 | $67,690 | 860 | 1.94 |
| Maine | $43,830 | $36,550 | $67,230 | 210 | 1.4 |
| Maryland | Data unavailable | 560 | 0.89 | ||
| Massachusetts | $50,240 | $40,250 | $121,090 | 280 | 0.34 |
| Michigan | $48,650 | $36,360 | $87,420 | 850 | 0.85 |
| Minnesota | $57,880 | $40,520 | $101,360 | 600 | 0.88 |
| Mississippi | $39,060 | $31,800 | $69,170 | 330 | 1.22 |
| Missouri | $41,600 | $33,660 | $67,720 | 590 | 0.87 |
| Montana | $47,430 | $39,900 | $73,190 | 70 | 0.56 |
| Nebraska | $51,750 | $38,950 | $89,480 | 160 | 0.69 |
| Nevada | Data unavailable | 350 | 0.98 | ||
| New Hampshire | $65,370 | $40,510 | $124,150 | 280 | 1.81 |
| New Jersey | $54,710 | $39,980 | $103,750 | 410 | 0.42 |
| New Mexico | $41,600 | $35,660 | $66,350 | ||
| New York | $59,140 | $40,940 | $103,610 | 1,300 | 0.59 |
| North Carolina | $52,890 | $36,600 | $98,560 | 1,710 | 1.51 |
| North Dakota | $44,310 | $32,710 | $61,320 | 60 | 0.56 |
| Ohio | $47,200 | $37,460 | $84,930 | 1,560 | 1.23 |
| Oklahoma | $39,680 | $36,050 | $62,690 | 370 | 0.96 |
| Oregon | $76,480 | $44,610 | $97,500 | 610 | 1.35 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,200 | $38,380 | $91,470 | 1,220 | 0.88 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,190 | $21,840 | $47,430 | 120 | 0.56 |
| Rhode Island | $54,620 | $37,560 | $79,140 | 60 | 0.49 |
| South Carolina | $51,530 | $37,000 | $93,740 | 620 | 1.17 |
| South Dakota | $44,840 | $40,050 | $49,560 | 60 | 0.56 |
| Tennessee | $49,360 | $33,930 | $101,030 | 940 | 1.26 |
| Texas | $51,810 | $35,650 | $99,930 | 3,220 | 1 |
| Utah | $57,910 | $38,690 | $89,900 | 350 | 0.89 |
| Vermont | $67,910 | $41,860 | $95,830 | 90 | 1.28 |
| Virginia | $56,160 | $35,530 | $95,000 | 1,280 | 1.36 |
| Washington | $64,080 | $43,060 | $104,220 | 750 | 0.92 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 | $35,990 | $78,560 | 170 | 1.03 |
| Wisconsin | $41,850 | $37,000 | $76,550 | 410 | 0.61 |
| Wyoming | $54,310 | $40,550 | $80,120 | 40 | 0.56 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for private detectives and investigators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 9.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for private detectives and investigators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Criminal Justice/Police Science CIP 43.0107
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management CIP 43.0115
- Protective Services Operations CIP 43.0120
- Maritime Law Enforcement CIP 43.0122
- Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection CIP 43.0123
- Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism CIP 43.0403
- Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation CIP 43.0405
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Computer imaging software
- Email software
- LexisNexis
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Service Orientation, Time Management.
Common job titles: Asset Protection Detective, Field Investigator, Investigator, Loss Prevention Agent, Loss Prevention Associate, Loss Prevention Detective, Loss Prevention Investigator, Loss Prevention Officer, Private Investigator, Special Investigator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make?
The national median annual wage for private detectives and investigators was $51,220 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,740 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $97,630. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do private detectives and investigators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is private detectives and investigators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of private detectives and investigators to change +5.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay private detectives and investigators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oregon ($76,480), Connecticut ($75,010), District of Columbia ($72,720). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.