Private Detectives and Investigators Salary by City

BLS OEWS May 2025 • 243 metro areas

Top-paying metros for Private Detectives and Investigators

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Lexington Park, MD	$80,060	30
Salem, OR	$79,550	170
Portland, OR-WA	$79,110	230
Chicago, IL-IN	$77,680	1,320
Oregon	$77,320	480
Minneapolis, MN-WI	$76,730	670

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All metros — Private Detectives and Investigators salaries

AK

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Anchorage, AK	$58,880	50
Alaska	$54,080	80

AL

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Birmingham, AL	$51,730	220
Montgomery, AL	$50,240	60
Alabama	$47,180	580
Huntsville, AL	$40,900	40
Mobile, AL	$38,490	40

AR

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$44,910	40
Arkansas	$43,310	360
North Arkansas	$40,900	30
Little Rock, AR	$40,220	60

AZ

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Phoenix, AZ	$75,230	760
Arizona	$64,960	980
Tucson, AZ	$44,780	80

CA

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
San Francisco, CA	$75,400	540
San Jose, CA	$69,500	380
California	$60,210	5,260
Los Angeles, CA	$59,950	1,780
San Diego, CA	$59,840	340
Stockton, CA	$59,640	110
Vallejo, CA	$58,250	40
Riverside, CA	$57,680	500
Oxnard, CA	$57,130	100
Sacramento, CA	$51,650	410
Modesto, CA	$51,560	40
Fresno, CA	$48,880	80
Bakersfield, CA	$46,390	70
Visalia, CA	$45,710	60

CO

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Fort Collins, CO	$62,520	40
Denver, CO	$59,040	330
Colorado	$49,720	580
Colorado Springs, CO	$45,840	90

CT

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Bridgeport, CT	$73,530	70
Hartford, CT	$73,530	140
Connecticut	$68,290	400
Waterbury, CT	$61,850	50
New Haven, CT	$57,770	70

DC

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$62,190	490

DE

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Delaware	$49,400	120

FL

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Crestview, FL	$54,720	30
North Port, FL	$52,470	80
Deltona, FL	$52,360	80
Miami, FL	$50,860	1,200
Jacksonville, FL	$49,050	370
Florida	$48,880	3,780
Gainesville, FL	$48,870	40
Panama City, FL	$48,380	40
Port St. Lucie, FL	$48,380	40
Palm Bay, FL	$48,120	60
Tampa, FL	$47,860	670
Ocala, FL	$47,020	40
Pensacola, FL	$45,900	60
Cape Coral, FL	$45,510	110
Tallahassee, FL	$44,910	100
Lakeland, FL	$44,630	120
Orlando, FL	$42,340	400

GA

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
South Georgia	$47,500	40
Savannah, GA	$46,500	50
North Georgia	$46,190	50
Middle Georgia	$44,990	30
Atlanta, GA	$44,590	890
Georgia	$44,590	1,340
Augusta, GA-SC	$43,920	40
Gainesville, GA	$41,140	30
Columbus, GA-AL	$38,010	30

HI

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Hawaii	$44,390	60
Urban Honolulu, HI	$44,390	50

IA

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Davenport, IA-IL	$55,050	40
Des Moines, IA	$47,060	40
Iowa	$45,070	140

ID

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Boise City, ID	$48,170	200
Idaho	$48,170	300

IL

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Chicago, IL-IN	$77,680	1,320
Illinois	$73,070	1,770
Northwest Illinois	$62,230	60
Peoria, IL	$53,440	30
East Central Illinois	$39,050	30

IN

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Indianapolis, IN	$47,430	200
Evansville, IN	$45,400	40
Indiana	$45,400	560
Fort Wayne, IN	$39,620	40

KS

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Kansas	$45,020	270
Kansas	$42,100	60
Wichita, KS	$41,450	70

KY

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$49,920	110
Kentucky	$48,130	490
Lexington, KY	$45,290	40

LA

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Baton Rouge, LA	$47,700	200
Slidell, LA	$46,870	50
Louisiana	$43,390	890
New Orleans, LA	$42,890	300
Lafayette, LA	$42,100	—
Lake Charles, LA	$39,520	30
Shreveport, LA	$38,970	50

MA

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Boston, MA-NH	$60,280	390
Massachusetts	$57,840	480
Springfield, MA	$46,570	30
Worcester, MA	$45,020	40

MD

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Lexington Park, MD	$80,060	30
Maryland	$74,360	560
Baltimore, MD	$60,450	210

ME

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Portland, ME	$53,770	90
Maine	$49,360	200
Southwest Maine	$49,360	30
Lewiston, ME	$41,250	—

MI

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Detroit, MI	$50,630	430
Michigan	$49,700	980
Grand Rapids, MI	$41,500	60
Mid Michigan	$39,520	30
Ann Arbor, MI	$38,810	30
Lansing, MI	$38,280	40

MN

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Minneapolis, MN-WI	$76,730	670
Minnesota	$72,070	940
Northwest Minnesota	$57,880	50
Southeast Minnesota	$49,150	40

MO

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Jefferson City, MO	$68,330	30
Kansas City, MO-KS	$46,390	180
St. Louis, MO-IL	$44,510	180
Missouri	$43,780	450
Springfield, MO	$40,900	60
Central Missouri	$37,170	40

MS

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Gulfport, MS	$53,540	50
Jackson, MS	$42,400	80
Mississippi	$39,460	370
Lower East Mississippi	$39,150	30
Upper East Mississippi	$37,230	30

MT

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Montana	$47,910	60

NC

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Charlotte, NC-SC	$74,720	740
Greenville, NC	$57,590	40
North Carolina	$55,190	1,370
Asheville, NC	$53,900	50
Fayetteville, NC	$46,510	50
Raleigh, NC	$43,230	110
Central North Carolina	$43,100	—
Western North Carolina	$41,700	50
Winston, NC	$41,410	60
Durham, NC	$41,040	40
Greensboro, NC	$39,990	50
Wilmington, NC	$37,680	70
Hickory, NC	$36,550	40

ND

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
North Dakota	$45,710	60

NE

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Lincoln, NE	$53,800	30
Nebraska	$52,160	130
Omaha, NE-IA	$45,710	50

NH

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Manchester, NH	$65,260	70
Central New Hampshire	$58,990	40
New Hampshire	$51,990	230

NJ

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Trenton, NJ	$55,230	40
New Jersey	$51,540	790

NM

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Albuquerque, NM	$62,600	110
New Mexico	$44,870	190
Eastern New Mexico	$44,120	30

NV

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Las Vegas, NV	$47,550	340
Nevada	$47,550	420
Reno, NV	$45,020	50

NY

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Syracuse, NY	$69,120	60
New York	$59,840	1,850
New York, NY-NJ	$59,840	1,740
Rochester, NY	$55,500	100
Kiryas Joel, NY	$50,060	40
Albany, NY	$48,600	70
Buffalo, NY	$47,860	90
Central East New York	$47,310	30

OH

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Cleveland, OH	$57,030	270
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$56,660	250
Akron, OH	$53,190	50
Dayton, OH	$51,110	70
Ohio	$50,060	1,360
West Northwestern Ohio	$47,790	—
Columbus, OH	$46,810	220
Youngstown, OH	$43,740	40
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous)	$42,020	30
Toledo, OH	$39,080	40
Canton, OH	$38,750	60

OK

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Tulsa, OK	$44,870	110
Oklahoma City, OK	$40,790	110
Oklahoma	$40,470	320
Southeast Oklahoma	$37,210	40

OR

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Salem, OR	$79,550	170
Portland, OR-WA	$79,110	230
Oregon	$77,320	480
Eugene, OR	$63,940	30
Eastern Oregon	$54,680	40

PA

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Reading, PA	$51,960	40
Harrisburg, PA	$51,850	100
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$51,610	680
Allentown, PA-NJ	$51,220	50
Pennsylvania	$51,220	1,550
Pittsburgh, PA	$50,390	510
Northeastern Pennsylvania	$49,810	30
Scranton, PA	$48,430	50

PR

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
San Juan, PR	$43,180	170

RI

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Providence, RI-MA	$51,610	140
Rhode Island	$51,610	100

SC

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
South Carolina	$53,890	650
Greenville, SC	$50,530	100
Myrtle Beach, SC	$50,530	60
Columbia, SC	$46,580	90
Charleston, SC	$43,860	70

TN

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Knoxville, TN	$48,930	70
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$47,790	160
Nashville, TN	$46,610	200
Tennessee	$46,560	690
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$45,920	60

TX

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Tyler, TX	$60,450	50
Dallas, TX	$54,080	1,180
Austin, TX	$51,820	280
San Antonio, TX	$51,080	270
North Region of Texas	$48,160	70
Corpus Christi, TX	$48,120	50
Texas	$48,070	3,440
Coastal Plains Region of Texas	$44,580	40
Houston, TX	$43,310	700
El Paso, TX	$42,100	100
Beaumont, TX	$41,370	30
McAllen, TX	$40,900	70
Lubbock, TX	$39,510	30
Hill Country Region of Texas	$39,280	40
Killeen, TX	$38,490	40

UT

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Ogden, UT	$57,980	50
Salt Lake City, UT	$55,970	210
Utah	$51,130	360
Provo, UT	$48,600	40
St. George, UT	$41,080	40

VA

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Richmond, VA	$63,580	170
Northern West Virginia	$49,300	60
Virginia	$48,740	900
West Virginia	$46,830	250
Southwest Virginia	$41,200	40
Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$39,310	130

VT

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Burlington, VT	$67,520	—
Vermont	$66,070	—

WA

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Seattle, WA	$69,550	480
Washington	$65,370	840
Spokane, WA	$57,650	90
Olympia, WA	$56,530	30
Western Washington	$48,840	30

WI

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Madison, WI	$52,530	60
Wisconsin	$43,210	450
Milwaukee, WI	$39,670	150

WV

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Charleston, WV	$46,820	40
Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$40,130	40

WY

Metro area	Median salary	Employed
Wyoming	$67,360	40