Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Tulsa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,040 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Tulsa earn between $38,080 and $61,370.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $61K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,710 | $4,142 | $23.90 |
| Median | $44,340 | $3,695 | $21.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,080 | $3,173 | $18.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,370 | $5,114 | $29.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Tulsa vs. Oklahoma and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Tulsa earn 7% more than the Oklahoma average ($46,450) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | $49,710 | $44,340 | $36,580 | $63,040 | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $46,450 | $39,680 | $36,050 | $62,690 | 370 |
| 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 Tulsa
On the average salary of $49,710, a single filer in Tulsa takes home about $40,431 a year, or $3,369 a month and $1,555 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).
Is Tulsa a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tulsa area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.2), so the average $49,710 buys what about $55,720 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Tulsa ($46,670). A typical home costs $253,725, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Oklahoma cities
Tulsa ranks 1st of 2 Oklahoma metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Tulsa$49,710
- Oklahoma City$45,410
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Oklahoma
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 Tulsa: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Tulsa?
$23.90 an hour on average, and $21.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Tulsa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Tulsa?
About $40,431 a year ($3,369 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,710.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Tulsa 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 Tulsa, OK (46140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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