Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Greenville, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC

Median annual salary $50,530 -3.5% vs national
Median hourly $24.29
10th percentile $38,490
90th percentile $77,320
Employed locally 100
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Greenville, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Private Detectives and Investigators
in
Greenville, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,490
    25th
    $41,940
    50th (median)
    $50,530
    75th
    $53,890
    90th
    $77,320

    Greenville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,016 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 73% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 27% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $75,400
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $74,720
    Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $50,530
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $48,600
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $48,430
    Columbia, SC $46,580

    Related occupations in Greenville, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $33,740
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $55,230
    Firefighters $45,090
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $25,520
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $46,720
    Crossing Guards and Flaggers $31,680

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Greenville, SC is $24.29, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.17 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Greenville, SC is 3.5% 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 Greenville?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $38,490 per year in Greenville, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $41,940.