Average Salary

• In May 2008, private investigators averaged an annual salary of $46,480.
  
  

Salary Range

• The lowest paid 10 percent of private investigators received salaries around $23,500, while the highest paid 10 percent earned $76,640 in 2008.
  
  

Largest Employers

• The largest employers of private investigators in May 2008 were investigation and security services, state governments, local governments, and legal services and law firms. Private investigators employed in these areas earned average salaries of $42,310, $53,630, $51,180, and $53,810, respectively.
  
  

Higest Paying Employers

• In 2008, the highest paying employers of private investigators were architectural and engineering services, natural gas distribution, telecommunications, support services, and computer systems design services. Investigators working in these fields averaged between $66,820 and $81,920.
  
  

Highest Paying Areas

• In May 2008, the states with the highest paid private investigators were Virginia at $65,140, New Jersey at $63,050, California at $56,620, Alaska at $54,900, and New York at $52,140.