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Private Detectives and Investigators Salary

BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 49 reporting states. Tax year 2026.

Quick answer

According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median private detectives and investigators in the US earns $51,220 per year (35,580 employed). Gross pay is highest in Oregon ($76,480) and lowest in Mississippi ($39,060) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.

Private Detectives and Investigators pay by stategross median vs take-home
StateMedian wageAfter taxesMonthly netKeptEmployed
Private Detectives and Investigators in Oregon $76,480 $56,771 $4,731 74.2% 610
Private Detectives and Investigators in Connecticut $75,010 $59,049 $4,921 78.7% 400
Private Detectives and Investigators in Washington DC $72,720 $56,708 $4,726 78% —
Private Detectives and Investigators in Vermont $67,910 $54,583 $4,549 80.4% 90
Private Detectives and Investigators in New Hampshire $65,370 $54,705 $4,559 83.7% 280
Private Detectives and Investigators in Washington $64,080 $53,668 $4,472 83.8% 750
Private Detectives and Investigators in California $61,250 $49,670 $4,139 81.1% 4,190
Private Detectives and Investigators in Arizona $61,030 $49,901 $4,158 81.8% 790
Private Detectives and Investigators in Illinois $60,210 $47,723 $3,977 79.3% 1,300
Private Detectives and Investigators in New York $59,140 $47,102 $3,925 79.6% 1,300
Private Detectives and Investigators in Utah $57,910 $46,105 $3,842 79.6% 350
Private Detectives and Investigators in Minnesota $57,880 $46,274 $3,856 79.9% 600
Private Detectives and Investigators in Virginia $56,160 $44,889 $3,741 79.9% 1,280
Private Detectives and Investigators in Delaware $55,710 $44,528 $3,711 79.9% 110
Private Detectives and Investigators in New Jersey $54,710 $44,664 $3,722 81.6% 410
Private Detectives and Investigators in Rhode Island $54,620 $44,636 $3,720 81.7% 60
Private Detectives and Investigators in Wyoming $54,310 $45,818 $3,818 84.4% 40
Private Detectives and Investigators in Alaska $53,440 $45,119 $3,760 84.4% 70
Private Detectives and Investigators in North Carolina $52,890 $43,076 $3,590 81.4% 1,710
Private Detectives and Investigators in Texas $51,810 $43,809 $3,651 84.6% 3,220
Private Detectives and Investigators in Nebraska $51,750 $42,286 $3,524 81.7% 160
Private Detectives and Investigators in South Carolina $51,530 $41,650 $3,471 80.8% 620
Private Detectives and Investigators in Pennsylvania $51,200 $41,747 $3,479 81.5% 1,220
Private Detectives and Investigators in Florida $50,640 $42,869 $3,572 84.7% 3,660
Private Detectives and Investigators in Massachusetts $50,240 $40,256 $3,355 80.1% 280
Private Detectives and Investigators in Tennessee $49,360 $41,841 $3,487 84.8% 940
Private Detectives and Investigators in Colorado $48,730 $39,899 $3,325 81.9% 540
Private Detectives and Investigators in Michigan $48,650 $39,453 $3,288 81.1% 850
Private Detectives and Investigators in Idaho $47,910 $39,245 $3,270 81.9% 210
Private Detectives and Investigators in Arkansas $47,750 $38,898 $3,241 81.5% 370
Private Detectives and Investigators in Kentucky $47,650 $38,917 $3,243 81.7% 350
Private Detectives and Investigators in Montana $47,430 $38,818 $3,235 81.8% 70
Private Detectives and Investigators in Ohio $47,200 $39,590 $3,299 83.9% 1,560
Private Detectives and Investigators in Alabama $46,810 $37,716 $3,143 80.6% 530
Private Detectives and Investigators in West Virginia $46,410 $38,109 $3,176 82.1% 170
Private Detectives and Investigators in Hawaii $45,750 $36,962 $3,080 80.8% 70
Private Detectives and Investigators in Kansas $45,260 $36,821 $3,068 81.4% 280
Private Detectives and Investigators in Georgia $45,060 $36,670 $3,056 81.4% 1,460
Private Detectives and Investigators in South Dakota $44,840 $38,209 $3,184 85.2% 60
Private Detectives and Investigators in North Dakota $44,310 $37,783 $3,149 85.3% 60
Private Detectives and Investigators in Maine $43,830 $35,621 $2,968 81.3% 210
Private Detectives and Investigators in Louisiana $41,950 $35,015 $2,918 83.5% 860
Private Detectives and Investigators in Wisconsin $41,850 $34,746 $2,896 83% 410
Private Detectives and Investigators in Indiana $41,830 $34,586 $2,882 82.7% 480
Private Detectives and Investigators in Missouri $41,600 $34,588 $2,882 83.1% 590
Private Detectives and Investigators in New Mexico $41,600 $34,784 $2,899 83.6% —
Private Detectives and Investigators in Iowa $41,110 $34,302 $2,858 83.4% 170
Private Detectives and Investigators in Oklahoma $39,680 $32,823 $2,735 82.7% 370
Private Detectives and Investigators in Mississippi $39,060 $32,734 $2,728 83.8% 330
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