Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,780 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Chicago earn between $45,570 and $79,140.
- $41K10th
- $46K25th
- $68KMedian
- $79K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,020 | $5,668 | $32.70 |
| Median | $68,310 | $5,692 | $32.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,570 | $3,798 | $21.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,140 | $6,595 | $38.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($64,440) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $68,020 | $68,310 | $40,670 | $97,780 | 970 |
| Illinois | $64,440 | $60,210 | $38,920 | $97,780 | 1,300 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $68,020, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $53,456 a year, or $4,455 a month and $2,056 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $54,671 | $4,556 |
| Working in IL | $53,456 | $4,455 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $68,020 buys what about $65,660 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$48,620
- Madison, WI$53,090
- Grand Rapids, MI$53,830
- Davenport, IA$51,100
- Fort Wayne, IN$46,820
- Indianapolis, IN$52,750
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Chicago?
$32.70 an hour on average, and $32.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $53,456 a year ($4,455 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,020.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.