Private Detectives and Investigators salary in San Diego, CA
The median private detectives and investigators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earns $48,650 a year, 5% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $3,155 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $42,510
- 25th percentile
- $43,560
- Median percentile
- $48,650
- 75th percentile
- $64,080
- 90th percentile
- $103,600
Based on 280 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.
What you keep
$37,865 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $48,650 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,658 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,722 |
| California income tax (approx.) | −$3,406 |
| Monthly take-home | $3,155 |
| Every two weeks | $1,456 |
Does it go far here?
$43,481Median pay in San Diego, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 111.9 vs 100).
71%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,246 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in San Diego, CA
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $323,050 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $295,530 |
| Pediatricians, General | $262,650 |
| Chief Executives | $238,440 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $207,200 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $206,740 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $202,810 |
| Lawyers | $178,220 |
All private detectives and investigators salaries · Take-home pay in California