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Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Private Detectives and Investigators:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
32,050 | 4.9 % | $ 28.56 | $ 59,400 | 1.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Private Detectives and Investigators:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 16.21 | $ 18.44 | $ 25.06 | $ 36.42 | $ 44.55 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 33,710 | $ 38,360 | $ 52,120 | $ 75,740 | $ 92,660 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Private Detectives and Investigators are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Private Detectives and Investigators, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Private Detectives and Investigators:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Investigation and Security Services | 7,300 | 0.77 | $ 26.65 | $ 55,440 |
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 2,480 | 0.05 | $ 32.08 | $ 66,720 |
Legal Services | 2,120 | 0.18 | $ 32.82 | $ 68,270 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 2,060 | 0.08 | $ 34.44 | $ 71,630 |
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | 1,980 | 0.10 | $ 32.26 | $ 67,110 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Private Detectives and Investigators:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Investigation and Security Services | 7,300 | 0.77 | $ 26.65 | $ 55,440 |
Legal Services | 2,120 | 0.18 | $ 32.82 | $ 68,270 |
Couriers and Express Delivery Services | 960 | 0.10 | $ 37.69 | $ 78,390 |
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | 1,980 | 0.10 | $ 32.26 | $ 67,110 |
Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 1,880 | 0.08 | $ 28.43 | $ 59,130 |
Top paying industries for Private Detectives and Investigators:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific Research and Development Services | 30 | (7) | $ 55.89 | $ 116,250 |
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | 80 | 0.01 | $ 51.30 | $ 106,700 |
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | (8) | (8) | $ 49.11 | $ 102,150 |
Elementary and Secondary Schools | 110 | (7) | $ 40.64 | $ 84,540 |
Couriers and Express Delivery Services | 960 | 0.10 | $ 37.69 | $ 78,390 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Private Detectives and Investigators are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Private Detectives and Investigators, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Private Detectives and Investigators:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 4,100 | 0.23 | 1.07 | $ 28.80 | $ 59,900 |
Florida | 3,840 | 0.42 | 1.93 | $ 28.84 | $ 60,000 |
Texas | 2,390 | 0.18 | 0.85 | $ 26.44 | $ 54,990 |
New York | 1,700 | 0.19 | 0.86 | $ 33.30 | $ 69,260 |
Illinois | 1,690 | 0.29 | 1.32 | $ 31.99 | $ 66,540 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Private Detectives and Investigators:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rhode Island | 210 | 0.43 | 1.98 | $ 28.16 | $ 58,580 |
Florida | 3,840 | 0.42 | 1.93 | $ 28.84 | $ 60,000 |
Maine | 250 | 0.42 | 1.92 | $ 22.33 | $ 46,440 |
Virginia | 1,430 | 0.37 | 1.70 | $ 32.86 | $ 68,340 |
New Hampshire | 200 | 0.30 | 1.39 | $ 32.67 | $ 67,960 |
Top paying states for Private Detectives and Investigators:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oregon | 500 | 0.26 | 1.22 | $ 33.96 | $ 70,640 |
New York | 1,700 | 0.19 | 0.86 | $ 33.30 | $ 69,260 |
Virginia | 1,430 | 0.37 | 1.70 | $ 32.86 | $ 68,340 |
New Hampshire | 200 | 0.30 | 1.39 | $ 32.67 | $ 67,960 |
Washington | 600 | 0.18 | 0.81 | $ 32.45 | $ 67,490 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Private Detectives and Investigators:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 1,740 | 0.19 | 0.87 | $ 34.47 | $ 71,690 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,620 | 0.26 | 1.22 | $ 28.56 | $ 59,400 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,520 | 0.58 | 2.67 | $ 32.79 | $ 68,210 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 1,360 | 0.31 | 1.42 | $ 32.55 | $ 67,710 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 910 | 0.30 | 1.39 | $ 35.56 | $ 73,970 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 840 | 0.22 | 1.02 | $ 27.67 | $ 57,550 |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 730 | 0.53 | 2.46 | $ 23.69 | $ 49,280 |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 710 | 0.26 | 1.20 | $ 28.32 | $ 58,910 |
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 690 | 0.31 | 1.43 | $ 28.29 | $ 58,840 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 590 | 0.25 | 1.13 | $ 34.53 | $ 71,820 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Private Detectives and Investigators:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 60 | 1.27 | 5.85 | $ 20.10 | $ 41,800 |
Salem, OR | 160 | 0.93 | 4.31 | $ 34.29 | $ 71,320 |
Tyler, TX | 60 | 0.60 | 2.77 | $ 34.68 | $ 72,130 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,520 | 0.58 | 2.67 | $ 32.79 | $ 68,210 |
New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 290 | 0.55 | 2.55 | $ 23.68 | $ 49,260 |
Tallahassee, FL | 100 | 0.55 | 2.53 | $ 24.66 | $ 51,290 |
Waterbury, CT | 40 | 0.55 | 2.53 | $ 30.88 | $ 64,240 |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 730 | 0.53 | 2.46 | $ 23.69 | $ 49,280 |
Pueblo, CO | 30 | 0.50 | 2.32 | $ 18.86 | $ 39,220 |
Portland-South Portland, ME | 100 | 0.48 | 2.21 | $ 23.28 | $ 48,420 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Private Detectives and Investigators:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 120 | 0.46 | 2.11 | $ 37.37 | $ 77,730 |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 390 | 0.31 | 1.42 | $ 36.09 | $ 75,060 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 910 | 0.30 | 1.39 | $ 35.56 | $ 73,970 |
Tyler, TX | 60 | 0.60 | 2.77 | $ 34.68 | $ 72,130 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 590 | 0.25 | 1.13 | $ 34.53 | $ 71,820 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 1,740 | 0.19 | 0.87 | $ 34.47 | $ 71,690 |
Salem, OR | 160 | 0.93 | 4.31 | $ 34.29 | $ 71,320 |
Manchester, NH | 30 | 0.32 | 1.47 | $ 34.26 | $ 71,270 |
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 300 | 0.19 | 0.89 | $ 33.93 | $ 70,580 |
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 80 | 0.21 | 0.98 | $ 33.90 | $ 70,510 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Private Detectives and Investigators:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Florida nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.49 | 2.25 | $ 24.60 | $ 51,170 |
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.25 | 1.17 | $ 20.92 | $ 43,510 |
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.17 | 0.79 | $ 19.61 | $ 40,800 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Private Detectives and Investigators:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Florida nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.49 | 2.25 | $ 24.60 | $ 51,170 |
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.25 | 1.17 | $ 20.92 | $ 43,510 |
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.17 | 0.79 | $ 19.61 | $ 40,800 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Private Detectives and Investigators:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 27.15 | $ 56,470 |
North Florida nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.49 | 2.25 | $ 24.60 | $ 51,170 |
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.25 | 1.17 | $ 20.92 | $ 43,510 |
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.17 | 0.79 | $ 19.61 | $ 40,800 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023