How much does a private detective make?
Typical yearly pay for private detectives and investigators in the United States.
median pay per year, about $4,268 a month or $24.62 an hour.
That's more than 29% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #71 of 100.
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| Funeral director | $55,010 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Real estate agent | $52,830 |
| Private detective | $51,220 |
| Auto mechanic | $50,620 |
| Garbage collector | $49,690 |
| Dental assistant | $48,070 |
Similar jobs
- Garbage collector$49,690
- Correctional officer$58,940
- Firefighter$59,280
- Water treatment operator$60,020
- Mail carrier$60,550
- Security guard$38,020
How much does a private detective make per hour?
About $24.62 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming a private detective
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
How to become a private detective
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Private Detectives and Investigators” (code 33-9021.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.