Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Gainesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,610 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Gainesville earn between $37,290 and $62,360.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $52KMedian
- $62K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,140 | $4,512 | $26.03 |
| Median | $51,580 | $4,298 | $24.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,290 | $3,108 | $17.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,360 | $5,197 | $29.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Gainesville vs. Florida and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Gainesville earn 3% less than the Florida average ($55,820) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | $54,140 | $51,580 | $36,400 | $73,610 | 40 |
| Florida | $55,820 | $50,640 | $35,990 | $85,830 | 3,660 |
| 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 Gainesville
On the average salary of $54,140, a single filer in Gainesville takes home about $45,681 a year, or $3,807 a month and $1,757 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Gainesville a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Gainesville area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.7), so the average $54,140 buys what about $55,968 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Gainesville ($47,020). A typical home costs $306,605, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Florida cities
Gainesville ranks 9th of 16 Florida metro areas for this job; Deltona pays the most ($63,060).
- Deltona$63,060
- Miami$58,660
- Pensacola$55,930
- Crestview$55,560
- Port St. Lucie$55,200
- Tampa$54,910
- Sarasota$54,880
- Tallahassee$54,490
- Gainesville$54,140
- Fort Myers$53,650
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Florida
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 Gainesville: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Gainesville?
$26.03 an hour on average, and $24.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Gainesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Gainesville?
About $45,681 a year ($3,807 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,140. Florida has no state income tax.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Gainesville than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Gainesville, FL (23540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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