Private Detectives and Investigators Salary by State (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed: 2026-05-19

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salaries across 49 states

$51,910

National Average (Median)

$76,480

Highest: Oregon

$39,060

Lowest: Mississippi

Private Detectives and Investigators Salary by State

Compare Private Detectives and Investigators salaries across all 50 states. Click any state for the full breakdown.

$39,060

$76,480

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2025 Annual

AL $46,810 AK $53,440 AZ $61,030 AR $47,750 CA $61,250 CO $48,730 CT $75,010 DE $55,710 DC $72,720 FL $50,640 GA $45,060 HI $45,750 ID $47,910 IL $60,210 IN $41,830 IA $41,110 KS $45,260 KY $47,650 LA $41,950 ME $43,830 MA $50,240 MI $48,650 MN $57,880 MS $39,060 MO $41,600 MT $47,430 NE $51,750 NH $65,370 NJ $54,710 NM $41,600 NY $59,140 NC $52,890 ND $44,310 OH $47,200 OK $39,680 OR $76,480 PA $51,200 RI $54,620 SC $51,530 SD $44,840 TN $49,360 TX $51,810 UT $57,910 VT $67,910 VA $56,160 WA $64,080 WV $46,410 WI $41,850 WY $54,310

Top 5 Highest-Paying States

Oregon

$76,480

Connecticut

$75,010

District of Columbia

$72,720

Vermont

$67,910

New Hampshire

$65,370

Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in All 49 States

#	State	Median Salary	Mean Salary	Employment
1	Oregon	$76,480	$74,690	610
2	Connecticut	$75,010	$66,560	400
3	District of Columbia	$72,720	$88,260	N/A
4	Vermont	$67,910	$63,670	90
5	New Hampshire	$65,370	$69,350	280
6	Washington	$64,080	$71,020	750
7	California	$61,250	$67,040	4,190
8	Arizona	$61,030	$62,410	790
9	Illinois	$60,210	$64,440	1,300
10	New York	$59,140	$68,310	1,300
11	Utah	$57,910	$59,830	350
12	Minnesota	$57,880	$66,510	600
13	Virginia	$56,160	$61,940	1,280
14	Delaware	$55,710	$59,230	110
15	New Jersey	$54,710	$66,160	410
16	Rhode Island	$54,620	$60,960	60
17	Wyoming	$54,310	$58,800	40
18	Alaska	$53,440	$62,190	70
19	North Carolina	$52,890	$61,350	1,710
20	Texas	$51,810	$58,670	3,220
21	Nebraska	$51,750	$58,140	160
22	South Carolina	$51,530	$58,980	620
23	Pennsylvania	$51,200	$59,880	1,220
24	Florida	$50,640	$55,820	3,660
25	Massachusetts	$50,240	$70,110	280
26	Tennessee	$49,360	$63,810	940
27	Colorado	$48,730	$58,910	540
28	Michigan	$48,650	$53,850	850
29	Idaho	$47,910	$54,530	210
30	Arkansas	$47,750	$57,940	370
31	Kentucky	$47,650	$51,130	350
32	Montana	$47,430	$52,540	70
33	Ohio	$47,200	$56,980	1,560
34	Alabama	$46,810	$48,750	530
35	West Virginia	$46,410	$49,600	170
36	Hawaii	$45,750	$54,920	70
37	Kansas	$45,260	$50,220	280
38	Georgia	$45,060	$54,730	1,460
39	South Dakota	$44,840	$44,210	60
40	North Dakota	$44,310	$47,230	60
41	Maine	$43,830	$48,590	210
42	Louisiana	$41,950	$46,110	860
43	Wisconsin	$41,850	$50,660	410
44	Indiana	$41,830	$49,080	480
45	Missouri	$41,600	$48,150	590
46	New Mexico	$41,600	$49,550	N/A
47	Iowa	$41,110	$48,190	170
48	Oklahoma	$39,680	$46,450	370
49	Mississippi	$39,060	$46,370	330

Private Detectives and Investigators Take-Home Pay After Taxes

Gross salary only tells half the story. State income taxes vary from 0% to 13.3%, dramatically affecting your take-home pay. See exactly what a Private Detectives and Investigators keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes.

Take-Home in Oregon → Take-Home in Connecticut → Take-Home in District of Columbia →

Data Source & Methodology

Salary data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, 2025 estimates. After-tax figures use IRS federal brackets and state income tax rates for all 50 states.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS