Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $59,840 +14.3% vs national
Median hourly $28.77
10th percentile $42,850
90th percentile $98,640
Employed locally 340
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Private Detectives and Investigators
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $42,850
    25th
    $44,550
    50th (median)
    $59,840
    75th
    $76,240
    90th
    $98,640

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 59% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 41% 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 San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $41,380
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $109,190
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $118,830
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $43,190
    Firefighters $70,120
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $38,700

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in San Diego, CA is $28.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.81 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in San Diego, CA 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 San Diego?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $42,850 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,550.