SOC 33-9021 · Protective Service Occupations

Private Detectives and Investigators

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$51,220

U.S. median hourly wage$24.62

U.S. employment35,580

Nationally, private detectives and investigators earned a median of $51,220 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 35,580 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Private Detectives and Investigators: pay and employment by state
State
Oregon	$76,480	$36.77	610	0.3
Connecticut	$75,010	$36.06	400	0.2
District of Columbia	$72,720	$34.96	Not published	Not published
Vermont	$67,910	$32.65	90	0.3
New Hampshire	$65,370	$31.43	280	0.4
Washington	$64,080	$30.81	750	0.2
California	$61,250	$29.45	4,190	0.2
Arizona	$61,030	$29.34	790	0.2
Illinois	$60,210	$28.95	1,300	0.2
New York	$59,140	$28.43	1,300	0.1
Utah	$57,910	$27.84	350	0.2
Minnesota	$57,880	$27.83	600	0.2
Virginia	$56,160	$27.00	1,280	0.3
Delaware	$55,710	$26.78	110	0.2
New Jersey	$54,710	$26.31	410	0.1
Rhode Island	$54,620	$26.26	60	0.1
Wyoming	$54,310	$26.11	40	0.1
Alaska	$53,440	$25.69	70	0.2
North Carolina	$52,890	$25.43	1,710	0.3
Texas	$51,810	$24.91	3,220	0.2
Nebraska	$51,750	$24.88	160	0.2
South Carolina	$51,530	$24.78	620	0.3
Pennsylvania	$51,200	$24.62	1,220	0.2
Florida	$50,640	$24.35	3,660	0.4
Massachusetts	$50,240	$24.15	280	0.1
Tennessee	$49,360	$23.73	940	0.3
Colorado	$48,730	$23.43	540	0.2
Michigan	$48,650	$23.39	850	0.2
Idaho	$47,910	$23.03	210	0.3
Arkansas	$47,750	$22.96	370	0.3
Kentucky	$47,650	$22.91	350	0.2
Montana	$47,430	$22.80	70	0.1
Ohio	$47,200	$22.69	1,560	0.3
Alabama	$46,810	$22.50	530	0.3
West Virginia	$46,410	$22.31	170	0.2
Hawaii	$45,750	$21.99	70	0.1
Kansas	$45,260	$21.76	280	0.2
Georgia	$45,060	$21.66	1,460	0.3
South Dakota	$44,840	$21.56	60	0.1
North Dakota	$44,310	$21.30	60	0.1
Maine	$43,830	$21.07	210	0.3
Puerto Rico	$42,190	$20.29	120	0.1
Louisiana	$41,950	$20.17	860	0.4
Wisconsin	$41,850	$20.12	410	0.1
Indiana	$41,830	$20.11	480	0.2
Missouri	$41,600	$20.00	590	0.2
New Mexico	$41,600	$20.00	Not published	Not published
Iowa	$41,110	$19.77	170	0.1
Oklahoma	$39,680	$19.08	370	0.2
Mississippi	$39,060	$18.78	330	0.3
Maryland	Not published	Not published	560	0.2
Nevada	Not published	Not published	350	0.2

Pay by metro area

All 155 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Private Detectives and Investigators: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$99,680	$47.92	310	0.5
Salem, OR	$81,070	$38.98	180	1.0
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$78,330	$37.66	270	0.2
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$77,540	$37.28	150	0.3
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$76,630	$36.84	50	0.3
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$75,670	$36.38	430	0.2
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$73,430	$35.30	860	0.6
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$70,780	$34.03	100	0.5
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$70,220	$33.76	410	0.2
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$70,190	$33.75	50	0.4
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$70,150	$33.73	430	0.2
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$68,310	$32.84	970	0.2
New Haven, CT	$65,030	$31.26	70	0.3
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$64,400	$30.96	610	0.3
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$64,080	$30.81	60	0.1
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$64,060	$30.80	190	0.2
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$63,940	$30.74	30	0.2
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$62,520	$30.06	40	0.2
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$62,300	$29.95	790	0.3
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$61,680	$29.65	1,520	0.2
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$61,460	$29.55	1,070	0.3
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$61,460	$29.55	90	0.3
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$60,910	$29.29	230	0.1
Corpus Christi, TX	$60,090	$28.89	40	0.2
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$59,770	$28.74	80	0.2
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$59,490	$28.60	420	0.2
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$59,350	$28.53	120	0.6
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$59,140	$28.44	1,040	0.1
Modesto, CA	$58,460	$28.11	30	0.2
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$58,170	$27.97	80	0.2
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$57,910	$27.84	240	0.3
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$57,620	$27.70	50	0.3
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$56,760	$27.29	260	0.2
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$56,530	$27.18	30	0.2
Tallahassee, FL	$56,510	$27.17	120	0.7
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	$56,370	$27.10	40	0.3
Ogden, UT	$55,450	$26.66	40	0.1
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$55,420	$26.64	30	0.1
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$54,720	$26.31	1,030	0.4
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$53,930	$25.93	40	0.1
Asheville, NC	$53,900	$25.91	50	0.3
Lincoln, NE	$53,800	$25.86	30	0.2
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$53,680	$25.81	450	0.2
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$53,610	$25.77	40	0.1
Richmond, VA	$52,430	$25.21	130	0.2
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$52,000	$25.00	340	0.2
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$51,950	$24.97	80	0.2
Columbus, OH	$51,780	$24.90	390	0.4
Gainesville, FL	$51,580	$24.80	40	0.3
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$51,390	$24.71	660	0.5
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$51,130	$24.58	350	0.3
Greenville, NC	$51,010	$24.52	50	0.6
Syracuse, NY	$50,730	$24.39	40	0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$50,710	$24.38	50	0.1
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$50,540	$24.30	80	0.1
Rochester, NY	$50,510	$24.28	90	0.2
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$50,220	$24.14	80	0.3
Reading, PA	$50,200	$24.13	40	0.2
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$49,870	$23.98	90	0.3
Pittsburgh, PA	$49,810	$23.95	340	0.3
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	$49,740	$23.92	60	0.4
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$49,420	$23.76	110	0.2
Birmingham, AL	$49,390	$23.75	180	0.4
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$48,650	$23.39	280	0.2
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	$48,630	$23.38	40	0.4
Vallejo, CA	$48,600	$23.37	40	0.3
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$48,510	$23.32	70	0.2
Port St. Lucie, FL	$48,430	$23.29	60	0.3
Evansville, IN	$48,280	$23.21	30	0.2
Jacksonville, FL	$48,060	$23.11	310	0.4
Columbia, SC	$48,000	$23.08	100	0.2
Visalia, CA	$47,970	$23.06	50	0.3
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$47,960	$23.06	100	0.3
Mobile, AL	$47,770	$22.96	60	0.3
Boise City, ID	$47,690	$22.93	120	0.3
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$47,690	$22.93	350	0.2
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$47,360	$22.77	450	0.3
Montgomery, AL	$47,100	$22.65	60	0.4
Portland-South Portland, ME	$46,610	$22.41	100	0.3
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$46,560	$22.39	80	0.1
Ocala, FL	$46,470	$22.34	40	0.3
Tyler, TX	$46,390	$22.30	30	0.3
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$46,380	$22.30	40	0.4
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$46,190	$22.21	260	0.2
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$46,110	$22.17	710	0.2
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$45,990	$22.11	210	0.3
Savannah, GA	$45,960	$22.10	60	0.3
Urban Honolulu, HI	$45,750	$21.99	50	0.1
Cleveland, OH	$45,660	$21.95	180	0.2
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	$45,440	$21.85	60	0.3
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$45,390	$21.82	180	0.2
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$45,080	$21.68	980	0.3
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$44,890	$21.58	210	0.2
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$44,820	$21.55	30	0.2
Baton Rouge, LA	$44,810	$21.55	230	0.6
Kansas City, MO-KS	$44,640	$21.46	220	0.2
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$44,550	$21.42	140	0.1
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	$44,390	$21.34	70	0.7
Tulsa, OK	$44,340	$21.32	130	0.3
Omaha, NE-IA	$44,100	$21.20	70	0.1
Huntsville, AL	$43,950	$21.13	50	0.2
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$43,890	$21.10	60	0.1
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$43,740	$21.03	40	0.2
Fresno, CA	$43,590	$20.96	80	0.2
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$43,500	$20.91	250	0.6
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$43,420	$20.87	40	0.2
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$43,230	$20.78	60	0.2
Knoxville, TN	$43,150	$20.74	70	0.2
St. Louis, MO-IL	$42,930	$20.64	230	0.2
Worcester, MA	$42,720	$20.54	30	0.1
Winston-Salem, NC	$42,660	$20.51	80	0.3
Madison, WI	$42,320	$20.35	60	0.1
Colorado Springs, CO	$42,140	$20.26	50	0.2
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$42,140	$20.26	80	0.1
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$41,930	$20.16	40	0.1
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$41,850	$20.12	140	0.2
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$41,690	$20.04	40	0.2
Albuquerque, NM	$41,680	$20.04	Not published	Not published
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$41,630	$20.01	70	0.2
Tucson, AZ	$41,450	$19.93	70	0.2
Akron, OH	$41,420	$19.91	90	0.3
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$41,330	$19.87	50	0.2
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$41,110	$19.77	40	0.1
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$39,960	$19.21	30	0.2
Lafayette, LA	$39,800	$19.14	100	0.6
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$39,690	$19.08	130	0.5
Toledo, OH	$39,600	$19.04	40	0.1
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$39,260	$18.88	60	0.2
Fort Wayne, IN	$39,220	$18.86	40	0.2
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$39,060	$18.78	50	0.1
Canton-Massillon, OH	$38,750	$18.63	60	0.3
Springfield, MO	$38,690	$18.60	60	0.3
Fayetteville, NC	$38,500	$18.51	50	0.4
El Paso, TX	$38,070	$18.30	70	0.2
Wichita, KS	$37,940	$18.24	80	0.3
Jackson, MS	$37,920	$18.23	70	0.3
Oklahoma City, OK	$37,840	$18.19	140	0.2
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$37,750	$18.15	40	0.2
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$37,090	$17.83	50	0.2
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	$37,030	$17.81	40	0.2
Columbus, GA-AL	$36,750	$17.67	50	0.4
Lubbock, TX	$36,640	$17.62	30	0.2
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$36,530	$17.56	90	0.1
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	Not published	Not published	240	0.2
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	Not published	Not published	280	0.2
Chattanooga, TN-GA	Not published	Not published	110	0.4
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	Not published	Not published	120	0.4
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	Not published	Not published	70	0.2
Killeen-Temple, TX	Not published	Not published	50	0.3
Lake Charles, LA	Not published	Not published	30	0.3
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	Not published	Not published	270	0.2
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	Not published	Not published	30	0.3
Reno, NV	Not published	Not published	50	0.2
Springfield, IL	Not published	Not published	30	0.3
York-Hanover, PA	Not published	Not published	40	0.2

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.