Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Augusta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,370 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Augusta earn between $37,120 and $52,930.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $41KMedian
- $53K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,880 | $4,240 | $24.46 |
| Median | $41,330 | $3,444 | $19.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,120 | $3,093 | $17.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,930 | $4,411 | $25.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Augusta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Augusta earn 7% less than the Georgia average ($54,730) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | $50,880 | $41,330 | $36,090 | $101,370 | 50 |
| Georgia | $54,730 | $45,060 | $36,570 | $96,680 | 1,460 |
| 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 Augusta
On the average salary of $50,880, a single filer in Augusta takes home about $41,272 a year, or $3,439 a month and $1,587 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $42,005 | $3,500 |
| Working in GA | $41,272 | $3,439 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Augusta a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Augusta area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.9), so the average $50,880 buys what about $55,363 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Augusta ($45,990). A typical home costs $253,524, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Georgia cities
Augusta ranks 2nd of 4 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($58,050).
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Georgia
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 Augusta: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Augusta?
$24.46 an hour on average, and $19.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Augusta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Augusta?
About $41,272 a year ($3,439 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,880.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Augusta 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 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC (12260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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