Skip to content

The average salary for a Private Investigator in U.S. is $60,270.

Annual Average Salary Information

Annual Average Salary: $60,270

$36,060$96,600

Hourly Pay Information

Hourly Average Salary: $28.98

$17.34$46.44

What does a Private Investigator earn?

On average, private investigators earn around $60,270 per year in the U.S. Private investigators work with clients ranging from individuals to multinational organisations providing surveillance services, conducting investigations, and researching sensitive data. A private investigator can choose to specialise in a particular area such as fraud investigations, background checks, or surveillance operations.

How to earn more as a Private Investigator

To become a Private Investigator, you'll need to have extensive experience working in the field in addition to applicable qualifications. You can apply to a security agency or join a police team as a trainee, or take a course in private investigation. For higher income, you can specialise in a certain area, such as surveillance, or become self-employed. Additionally, you may have the option to create your own private investigation agency.