Highest-paying states for private detectives and investigators
Oregon leads at $76,480 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $76,480 | $55,660–$92,390 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 | $42,130–$83,320 |
| Vermont | $67,910 | $44,640–$76,960 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 | $46,970–$78,300 |
| Washington | $64,080 | $46,580–$84,700 |
| California | $61,250 | $45,380–$82,110 |
| Arizona | $61,030 | $41,450–$79,790 |
| Illinois | $60,210 | $44,380–$79,140 |
| New York | $59,140 | $45,970–$80,910 |
| Utah | $57,910 | $48,460–$61,090 |
| Minnesota | $57,880 | $45,930–$83,670 |
| Virginia | $56,160 | $41,200–$76,680 |
| Delaware | $55,710 | $47,520–$67,800 |
| New Jersey | $54,710 | $42,890–$91,990 |
| Rhode Island | $54,620 | $39,830–$79,140 |
| Wyoming | $54,310 | $42,800–$74,240 |
| Alaska | $53,440 | $42,780–$71,240 |
| North Carolina | $52,890 | $41,000–$74,900 |
| Texas | $51,810 | $36,810–$72,660 |
| Nebraska | $51,750 | $42,800–$76,000 |
| South Carolina | $51,530 | $40,140–$73,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,200 | $44,840–$71,830 |
| Florida | $50,640 | $38,120–$64,080 |
| Massachusetts | $50,240 | $42,540–$94,660 |
| Tennessee | $49,360 | $38,520–$99,170 |
| Colorado | $48,730 | $44,150–$67,800 |
| Michigan | $48,650 | $38,410–$61,590 |
| Idaho | $47,910 | $44,530–$65,350 |
| Arkansas | $47,750 | $37,970–$69,990 |
| Kentucky | $47,650 | $40,220–$56,080 |
| Montana | $47,430 | $42,640–$55,040 |
| Ohio | $47,200 | $41,600–$70,910 |
| Alabama | $46,810 | $37,740–$52,610 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 | $37,060–$60,740 |
| Hawaii | $45,750 | $43,790–$66,350 |
| Kansas | $45,260 | $36,900–$60,610 |
| Georgia | $45,060 | $38,650–$59,950 |
| South Dakota | $44,840 | $40,860–$48,550 |
| North Dakota | $44,310 | $39,840–$50,440 |
| Maine | $43,830 | $39,580–$54,070 |
| Louisiana | $41,950 | $36,750–$52,930 |
| Wisconsin | $41,850 | $38,580–$58,210 |
| Indiana | $41,830 | $37,990–$53,590 |
| Missouri | $41,600 | $37,480–$51,880 |
| Iowa | $41,110 | $38,380–$54,680 |
| Oklahoma | $39,680 | $37,110–$58,430 |
| Mississippi | $39,060 | $36,210–$52,360 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.