Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,230 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Durham earn between $38,860 and $64,080.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $54KMedian
- $64K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,800 | $4,317 | $24.90 |
| Median | $53,610 | $4,468 | $25.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,860 | $3,238 | $18.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,080 | $5,340 | $30.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Durham earn 16% less than the North Carolina average ($61,350) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $51,800 | $53,610 | $36,920 | $64,230 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $61,350 | $52,890 | $36,600 | $98,560 | 1,710 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $51,800, a single filer in Durham takes home about $42,243 a year, or $3,520 a month and $1,625 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 Durham a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $51,800 buys what about $53,089 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 4th of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($74,090).
- Charlotte$74,090
- Greenville$56,700
- Raleigh$54,010
- Durham$51,800
- Asheville$50,720
- Greensboro$48,720
- Hickory$47,210
- Winston-Salem$46,130
- Fayetteville$44,860
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in North Carolina
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 Durham: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Durham?
$24.90 an hour on average, and $25.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Durham?
About $42,243 a year ($3,520 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,800.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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