Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Trenton, NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Trenton-Princeton, NJ

Median annual salary $55,230 +5.5% vs national
Median hourly $26.55
10th percentile $40,160
90th percentile $95,350
Employed locally 40
National median $52,370

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salary & buying power

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Private Detectives and Investigators
in
Trenton, NJ
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,160
    25th
    $41,810
    50th (median)
    $55,230
    75th
    $72,020
    90th
    $95,350

    Trenton economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,333 2023 • Census ACS
    Private Detectives and Investigators salary vs area income 57% Median Private Detectives and Investigators salary is 43% 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $59,840
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $51,610
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $51,220

    Related occupations in Trenton, NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$35,240
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,480
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators$107,290
    Firefighters$88,970
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$148,270
    School Bus Monitors$31,720

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Trenton, NJ is $26.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.84 or more per hour.

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

    The median Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Trenton, NJ is 5.5% 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 Trenton?

    Entry-level Private Detectives and Investigators (10th percentile) earn around $40,160 per year in Trenton, NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $41,810.