Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,320 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Buffalo earn between $43,170 and $67,520.
- $38K10th
- $43K25th
- $51KMedian
- $68K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,470 | $4,872 | $28.11 |
| Median | $50,540 | $4,212 | $24.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,170 | $3,598 | $20.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,520 | $5,627 | $32.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Buffalo earn 14% less than the New York average ($68,310) and about the same as the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $58,470 | $50,540 | $37,960 | $77,320 | 80 |
| New York | $68,310 | $59,140 | $40,940 | $103,610 | 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 Buffalo
On the average salary of $58,470, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $46,550 a year, or $3,879 a month and $1,790 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $58,470 buys what about $61,005 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 5th of 6 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($71,950).
- New York$71,950
- Kiryas Joel$64,270
- Rochester$59,380
- Albany$59,320
- Buffalo$58,470
- Syracuse$50,220
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in New York
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 Buffalo: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Buffalo?
$28.11 an hour on average, and $24.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $46,550 a year ($3,879 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,470. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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