Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Riverside, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Median annual salary $57,680 +10.1% vs national
Median hourly $27.73
10th percentile $41,520
90th percentile $79,190
Employed locally 500
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

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Private Detectives and Investigators
in
Riverside, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,520
    25th
    $43,310
    50th (median)
    $57,680
    75th
    $76,420
    90th
    $79,190

    Riverside economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,031 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
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $77,680
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $75,400
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $69,500
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $60,280
    California $60,210
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $59,950

    Related occupations in Riverside, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $38,070
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $106,850
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $93,690
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $39,530
    Firefighters $75,230
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $126,380

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Riverside, CA is $27.73, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.15 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Riverside, CA is 10.1% 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 Riverside?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $41,520 per year in Riverside, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,310.