Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Phoenix
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $92,160 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Phoenix earn between $41,930 and $79,790.
- $39K10th
- $42K25th
- $64KMedian
- $80K75th
- $92K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,950 | $5,412 | $31.23 |
| Median | $64,400 | $5,367 | $30.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,930 | $3,494 | $20.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,790 | $6,649 | $38.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Phoenix vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Phoenix earn 4% more than the Arizona average ($62,410) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +26% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $64,950 | $64,400 | $39,060 | $92,160 | 610 |
| Arizona | $62,410 | $61,030 | $38,240 | $92,160 | 790 |
| 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 Phoenix
On the average salary of $64,950, a single filer in Phoenix takes home about $53,137 a year, or $4,428 a month and $2,044 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Phoenix a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $64,950 buys what about $62,865 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Phoenix ($51,380). A typical home costs $448,352, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Arizona cities
Phoenix ranks 1st of 2 Arizona metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Phoenix$64,950
- Tucson$48,210
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Arizona
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 Phoenix: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Phoenix?
$31.23 an hour on average, and $30.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Phoenix?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Phoenix?
About $53,137 a year ($4,428 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,950.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Phoenix than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (38060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.12, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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