Private Detectives and Investigators salary
in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
- Middle 50%
- $43,560–$64,080
- vs U.S. median
- -5%
- Metro rank
- #24 of 36
Private Detectives and Investigators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro earn a median of $48,650 a year, based on BLS estimates for 280 jobs (May 2025). That is 5% below the U.S. median of $51,220 and 21% below the CA statewide median of $61,250. It ranks #24 of 36 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE280 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 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,680 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,490 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,130 |
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RELATED JOBS IN SAN DIEGO
Questions
What is the average Private Detectives and Investigators salary in San Diego?
The BLS median is $48,650 a year (May 2025). Half of the 280 jobs pay between $43,560 and $64,080. The 10th percentile is $42,510 and the 90th is $103,600.
Is San Diego a high-paying metro for Private Detectives and Investigators?
That is 5% below the U.S. median of $51,220 and 21% below the CA statewide median of $61,250. It ranks #24 of 36 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Private Detectives and Investigators make an hour in San Diego?
About $23.39 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $48,650 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $20.94–$30.81 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.