As of January 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Private Investigator in the United States is $51,902. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $42,002 to $62,802, with most professionals earning between $32,989 and $72,726.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $62,802 | $5,234 | $1,208 | $30 |
| Average | $51,902 | $4,325 | $998 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,002 | $3,500 | $808 | $20 |
An entry-level Private Investigator with less than 1 year of experience earns about $47,269. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $48,008. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $52,508. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $57,021, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $57,827.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Private Investigator | $47,269 |
| Intermediate Level Private Investigator | $48,008 |
| Senior Level Private Investigator | $52,508 |
| Specialist Level Private Investigator | $57,021 |
| Expert Level Private Investigator | $57,827 |
| Entry Level | 9% |
| Mid Level | 8% |
| Senior Level | 1% |
| Top Level | 10% |
| Experienced | 11% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Private Investigator information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Private Investigator job openings or enter a new job title here.
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| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $51,902 | 100.0% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| 401K/403B | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Disability | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Healthcare | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Pension | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Time Off | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Total Compensation | $51,902 | 100% | ||
The average annual salary of Private Investigator is $51,902. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Private Investigator is $25; the average weekly pay of Private Investigator is $998; the average monthly pay of Private Investigator is $4,325.
A Private Investigator's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Private Investigator earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Private Investigator is $65,202.
The highest pay for Private Investigator is $72,726.
The lowest pay for Private Investigator is $32,989.
The Private Investigator may require an associate's degree or its equivalent and 2-4 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Conducts private investigations to locate missing persons, obtains confidential information, and solves crimes. Being a Private Investigator relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Is familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. In addition, Private Investigator performs a variety of complicated tasks. Typically reports to an executive or head of a unit/department. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
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