Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Albany, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Median annual salary $48,600 -7.2% vs national
Median hourly $23.37
10th percentile $38,970
90th percentile $104,190
Employed locally 70
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

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Private Detectives and Investigators
in
Albany, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,970
    25th
    $40,950
    50th (median)
    $48,600
    75th
    $69,050
    90th
    $104,190

    Albany economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,072 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 56% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 44% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Private Detectives and Investigators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Lexington Park, MD $80,060
    Salem, OR $79,550
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $79,110
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $77,680
    Oregon $77,320
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $76,730

    Nearby metros — Private Detectives and Investigators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $69,500
    Syracuse, NY $69,120
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $59,840
    Rochester, NY $55,500
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $50,060
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $47,860

    Related occupations in Albany, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $43,040
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,380
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $106,110
    School Bus Monitors $34,750
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $61,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $118,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Private Detectives and Investigators make per hour in Albany?

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Albany, NY is $23.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.12 or more per hour.

    Is Albany above or below average for Private Detectives and Investigators salaries?

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Albany, NY is 7.2% below the national median of $52,370. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Private Detectives and Investigators in Albany?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $38,970 per year in Albany, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,950.