Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Lake Charles, LA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Lake Charles, LA

Median annual salary $39,520 -24.5% vs national
Median hourly $19.00
10th percentile $20,800
90th percentile $52,560
Employed locally 30
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

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Private Detectives and Investigators
in
Lake Charles, LA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,800
    25th
    $35,700
    50th (median)
    $39,520
    75th
    $45,530
    90th
    $52,560

    Lake Charles economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $67,010 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 59% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 41% 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
    Maryland $74,360
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $69,500
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $62,520
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $59,840

    Related occupations in Lake Charles, LA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $55,670
    Security Guards $31,140
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $71,440
    Firefighters $38,070
    School Bus Monitors $31,410
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $39,250

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Lake Charles, LA is $19.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.27 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Lake Charles, LA is 24.5% 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 Lake Charles?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $20,800 per year in Lake Charles, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,700.