Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Fresno
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,350 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Fresno earn between $41,760 and $58,180.
- $40K10th
- $42K25th
- $44KMedian
- $58K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,350 | $4,279 | $24.69 |
| Median | $43,590 | $3,632 | $20.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,760 | $3,480 | $20.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,180 | $4,848 | $27.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Fresno vs. California and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Fresno earn 23% less than the California average ($67,040) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $51,350 | $43,590 | $40,270 | $66,350 | 80 |
| California | $67,040 | $61,250 | $42,600 | $103,410 | 4,190 |
| 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 Fresno
On the average salary of $51,350, a single filer in Fresno takes home about $42,166 a year, or $3,514 a month and $1,622 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Fresno a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fresno area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.2), so the average $51,350 buys what about $50,265 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Fresno ($46,910). A typical home costs $409,749, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other California cities
Fresno ranks 12th of 13 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($78,960).
- San Francisco$78,960
- San Jose$77,160
- Los Angeles$67,920
- Vallejo$64,790
- Visalia$63,810
- Stockton$61,260
- Riverside$61,050
- San Diego$60,370
- Modesto$60,200
- Fresno$51,350
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in California
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 Fresno: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Fresno?
$24.69 an hour on average, and $20.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Fresno?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Fresno?
About $42,166 a year ($3,514 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,350. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Fresno than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Fresno, CA (23420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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