Private Detectives and Investigators salary
in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Middle 50%
- $46,210–$82,110
- vs U.S. median
- +20%
- Metro rank
- #10 of 36
Private Detectives and Investigators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro earn a median of $61,680 a year, based on BLS estimates for 1,520 jobs (May 2025). That is 20% above the U.S. median of $51,220 and 1% above the CA statewide median of $61,250. It ranks #10 of 36 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE1,520 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Private Detectives and Investigators pay in other CA metros
4 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,150 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,490 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,650 |
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Questions
What is the average Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Los Angeles?
The BLS median is $61,680 a year (May 2025). Half of the 1,520 jobs pay between $46,210 and $82,110. The 10th percentile is $43,200 and the 90th is $102,230.
Is Los Angeles a high-paying metro for Private Detectives and Investigators?
That is 20% above the U.S. median of $51,220 and 1% above the CA statewide median of $61,250. It ranks #10 of 36 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Private Detectives and Investigators make an hour in Los Angeles?
About $29.65 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $61,680 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $22.22–$39.48 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.