Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,230 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Philadelphia earn between $42,140 and $69,770.
- $40K10th
- $42K25th
- $54KMedian
- $70K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,090 | $5,174 | $29.85 |
| Median | $53,680 | $4,473 | $25.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,140 | $3,512 | $20.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,770 | $5,814 | $33.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Philadelphia earn 4% more than the Pennsylvania average ($59,880) and 3% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $62,090 | $53,680 | $39,640 | $94,230 | 450 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,880 | $51,200 | $38,380 | $91,470 | 1,220 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $62,090, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $50,163 a year, or $4,180 a month and $1,929 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $50,187 | $4,182 |
| Working in PA | $50,163 | $4,180 |
| Working in MD | $49,332 | $4,111 |
| Working in DE | $49,190 | $4,099 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $62,090 buys what about $60,544 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 2nd of 6 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Harrisburg pays the most ($67,380).
- Harrisburg$67,380
- Philadelphia$62,090
- Pittsburgh$53,540
- Allentown$52,640
- Reading$51,150
- Scranton$50,060
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Philadelphia?
$29.85 an hour on average, and $25.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $50,163 a year ($4,180 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,090. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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