Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in New York, NY-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Median annual salary $59,840 +14.3% vs national
Median hourly $28.77
10th percentile $44,200
90th percentile $113,220
Employed locally 1,740
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New York, NY-NJ stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Private Detectives and Investigators
in
New York, NY-NJ
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,200
    25th
    $52,450
    50th (median)
    $59,840
    75th
    $83,410
    90th
    $113,220

    New York economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $97,334 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $69,500
    Syracuse, NY $69,120
    Rochester, NY $55,500
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $50,060
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $48,600
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $47,860

    Related occupations in New York, NY-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$42,030
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$105,790
    Firefighters$105,250
    Correctional Officers and Jailers$92,190
    School Bus Monitors$37,650
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$137,520

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in New York, NY-NJ is $28.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $51.98 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in New York, NY-NJ is 14.3% above 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 York?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $44,200 per year in New York, NY-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $52,450.