Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Baton Rouge
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,560 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Baton Rouge earn between $37,180 and $61,470.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $45KMedian
- $61K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,920 | $4,160 | $24.00 |
| Median | $44,810 | $3,734 | $21.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,180 | $3,098 | $17.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,470 | $5,122 | $29.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Baton Rouge vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Baton Rouge earn 8% more than the Louisiana average ($46,110) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $49,920 | $44,810 | $35,690 | $74,560 | 230 |
| Louisiana | $46,110 | $41,950 | $35,000 | $67,690 | 860 |
| 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 Baton Rouge
On the average salary of $49,920, a single filer in Baton Rouge takes home about $41,179 a year, or $3,432 a month and $1,584 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 Baton Rouge a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baton Rouge area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $49,920 buys what about $54,990 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Baton Rouge ($48,710). A typical home costs $248,176, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Louisiana cities
Baton Rouge ranks 1st of 5 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Baton Rouge$49,920
- Slidell$48,500
- New Orleans$46,510
- Shreveport$41,880
- Lafayette$41,870
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Louisiana
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 Baton Rouge: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Baton Rouge?
$24.00 an hour on average, and $21.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Baton Rouge?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Baton Rouge?
About $41,179 a year ($3,432 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,920.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Baton Rouge than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Baton Rouge, LA (12940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 2.41, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.