Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $36,550 -30.2% vs national
Median hourly $17.57
10th percentile $27,720
90th percentile $55,190
Employed locally 40
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

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Private Detectives and Investigators
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,720
    25th
    $27,720
    50th (median)
    $36,550
    75th
    $43,260
    90th
    $55,190

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 61% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 39% 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
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $79,110
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $75,400
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $74,720
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $65,260
    Anchorage, AK $58,880
    Greenville, NC $57,590

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $52,270
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $48,040
    Firefighters $34,790
    Security Guards $32,780
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $75,240
    First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers $55,970

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Hickory, NC is $17.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.27 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Hickory, NC is 30.2% 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $27,720 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,720.