Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Reading, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Reading, PA

Median annual salary $51,960 -0.8% vs national
Median hourly $24.98
10th percentile $41,530
90th percentile $61,010
Employed locally 40
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Private Detectives and Investigators
in
Reading, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,530
    25th
    $43,170
    50th (median)
    $51,960
    75th
    $58,650
    90th
    $61,010

    Reading economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,684 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 67% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 33% 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
    Lexington Park, MD $80,060
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $76,730
    Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $51,850
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $51,610
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $51,220
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $50,860

    Related occupations in Reading, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$38,790
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$87,930
    Correctional Officers and Jailers$69,400
    Firefighters$61,660
    Crossing Guards and Flaggers$35,430
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$108,050

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Reading, PA is $24.98, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $32.45 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Reading, PA is 0.8% 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 Reading?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $41,530 per year in Reading, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,170.