Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Grand Rapids, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

Median annual salary $41,500 -20.8% vs national
Median hourly $19.95
10th percentile $34,630
90th percentile $89,810
Employed locally 60
National median $52,370

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Private Detectives and Investigators
in
Grand Rapids, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,630
    25th
    $37,720
    50th (median)
    $41,500
    75th
    $51,320
    90th
    $89,810

    Grand Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,296 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 52% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 48% 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
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $76,730
    Minnesota $72,070
    Wyoming $67,360
    Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $57,880
    Birmingham, AL $51,730
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $51,610

    Related occupations in Grand Rapids, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $43,890
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,470
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $65,250
    Firefighters $55,410
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $28,850
    First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers $49,800

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Grand Rapids, MI is $19.95, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.33 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Grand Rapids, MI is 20.8% 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 Grand Rapids?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $34,630 per year in Grand Rapids, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,720.