Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Mobile, AL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Mobile, AL

Median annual salary $38,490 -26.5% vs national
Median hourly $18.51
10th percentile $30,500
90th percentile $60,150
Employed locally 40
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Private Detectives and Investigators
in
Mobile, AL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,500
    25th
    $33,950
    50th (median)
    $38,490
    75th
    $48,680
    90th
    $60,150

    Mobile economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,119 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 66% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 34% 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
    Salem, OR $79,550
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $69,500
    Albuquerque, NM $62,600
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $62,190
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $60,450
    California $60,210

    Related occupations in Mobile, AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$30,610
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$46,480
    Firefighters$46,250
    Correctional Officers and Jailers$40,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$75,140
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators$107,240

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Mobile, AL is $18.51, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.59 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Mobile, AL is 26.5% 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 Mobile?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $30,500 per year in Mobile, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,950.