Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Scranton, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Median annual salary $48,430 -7.5% vs national
Median hourly $23.28
10th percentile $32,670
90th percentile $72,310
Employed locally 50
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

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

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

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,670
    25th
    $43,770
    50th (median)
    $48,430
    75th
    $58,070
    90th
    $72,310

    Scranton economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,656 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 76% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 24% 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
    Reading, PA $51,960
    Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $51,850
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $51,610
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $51,220

    Related occupations in Scranton, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $37,040
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $74,070
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $66,460
    Crossing Guards and Flaggers $34,580
    Firefighters $55,780
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $88,900

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Scranton, PA is $23.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.36 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Scranton, PA is 7.5% 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 Scranton?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $32,670 per year in Scranton, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,770.