Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Worcester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,650 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Worcester earn between $40,870 and $53,590.
- $39K10th
- $41K25th
- $43KMedian
- $54K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,110 | $4,259 | $24.57 |
| Median | $42,720 | $3,560 | $20.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,870 | $3,406 | $19.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,590 | $4,466 | $25.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Worcester vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Worcester earn 27% less than the Massachusetts average ($70,110) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $51,110 | $42,720 | $39,220 | $83,650 | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $70,110 | $50,240 | $40,250 | $121,090 | 280 |
| 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 Worcester
On the average salary of $51,110, a single filer in Worcester takes home about $41,011 a year, or $3,418 a month and $1,577 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Worcester a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Worcester area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.5), so the average $51,110 buys what about $49,852 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Worcester ($57,830). A typical home costs $482,611, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Massachusetts cities
Worcester ranks 2nd of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Boston pays the most ($70,520).
- Boston$70,520
- Worcester$51,110
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Massachusetts
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 Worcester: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Worcester?
$24.57 an hour on average, and $20.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Worcester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Worcester?
About $41,011 a year ($3,418 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,110. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Worcester 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 Worcester, MA (49340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.40, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.40).
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