Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Providence
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,080 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Providence earn between $40,230 and $79,140.
- $38K10th
- $40K25th
- $47KMedian
- $79K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,380 | $4,948 | $28.55 |
| Median | $46,560 | $3,880 | $22.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,230 | $3,352 | $19.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,140 | $6,595 | $38.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Providence vs. Rhode Island and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Providence earn about the same as the Rhode Island average ($60,960) and about the same as the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $59,380 | $46,560 | $37,560 | $83,080 | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $60,960 | $54,620 | $37,560 | $79,140 | 60 |
| 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 Providence
On the average salary of $59,380, a single filer in Providence takes home about $48,282 a year, or $4,023 a month and $1,857 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in RI | $48,282 | $4,023 |
| Working in MA | $47,243 | $3,937 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Is Providence a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Providence area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.8), so the average $59,380 buys what about $58,346 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Providence ($53,680). A typical home costs $524,867, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- Worcester, MA$51,110
- Boston, MA$70,520
- Hartford, CT$68,320
- New Haven, CT$61,130
- Manchester, NH$73,260
- Waterbury, CT$63,850
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 Providence: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Providence?
$28.55 an hour on average, and $22.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Providence?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Providence?
About $48,282 a year ($4,023 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,380. Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Providence 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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (39300). 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). Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
- 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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