Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in New Orleans, LA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Median annual salary $42,890 -18.1% vs national
Median hourly $20.62
10th percentile $36,040
90th percentile $71,600
Employed locally 300
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New Orleans, LA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Private Detectives and Investigators
in
New Orleans, LA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,040
    25th
    $38,660
    50th (median)
    $42,890
    75th
    $54,080
    90th
    $71,600

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 69% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 31% 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 New Orleans, LA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $32,480
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $54,510
    Firefighters $33,870
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $81,650
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $50,970
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $36,450

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in New Orleans, LA is $20.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $31.83 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in New Orleans, LA is 18.1% 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 New Orleans?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $36,040 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,660.