Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,010 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Birmingham earn between $38,430 and $56,200.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $49KMedian
- $56K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,520 | $4,377 | $25.25 |
| Median | $49,390 | $4,116 | $23.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,430 | $3,202 | $18.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,200 | $4,683 | $27.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Birmingham vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Birmingham earn 8% more than the Alabama average ($48,750) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $52,520 | $49,390 | $36,580 | $85,010 | 180 |
| Alabama | $48,750 | $46,810 | $35,990 | $61,420 | 530 |
| United States | $60,150 | $51,220 | $36,740 | $97,630 | 35,580 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $52,520, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $42,200 a year, or $3,517 a month and $1,623 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Birmingham a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $52,520 buys what about $57,309 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 1st of 4 Alabama metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Birmingham$52,520
- Montgomery$49,310
- Huntsville$47,920
- Mobile$45,890
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Alabama
Highest-paying cities for private detectives and investigators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($78,960).
- San Francisco, CA$78,960
- Salem, OR$78,540
- Memphis, TN$78,160
- Portland, OR$77,440
- Seattle, WA$77,230
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Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Birmingham: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Birmingham?
$25.25 an hour on average, and $23.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $42,200 a year ($3,517 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,520. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,150).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9021; area Birmingham, AL (13820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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