Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,400 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Portland earn between $42,510 and $59,890.
- $36K10th
- $43K25th
- $47KMedian
- $60K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,020 | $4,252 | $24.53 |
| Median | $46,610 | $3,884 | $22.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,510 | $3,542 | $20.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,890 | $4,991 | $28.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Portland earn 5% more than the Maine average ($48,590) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $51,020 | $46,610 | $35,760 | $68,400 | 100 |
| Maine | $48,590 | $43,830 | $36,550 | $67,230 | 210 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $51,020, a single filer in Portland takes home about $41,409 a year, or $3,451 a month and $1,593 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $51,020 buys what about $50,089 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 10.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- Manchester, NH$73,260
- Boston, MA$70,520
- Worcester, MA$51,110
- Providence, RI$59,380
- Burlington, VT$66,800
- Hartford, CT$68,320
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 Portland: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Portland?
$24.53 an hour on average, and $22.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Portland?
About $41,409 a year ($3,451 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,020. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Portland 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.1%.
- 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). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.45, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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