Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,180 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Seattle earn between $47,650 and $93,900.
- $46K10th
- $48K25th
- $76KMedian
- $94K75th
- $115K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,230 | $6,436 | $37.13 |
| Median | $75,670 | $6,306 | $36.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,650 | $3,971 | $22.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,900 | $7,825 | $45.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Seattle earn 9% more than the Washington average ($71,020) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +48% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $77,230 | $75,670 | $45,510 | $115,180 | 430 |
| Washington | $71,020 | $64,080 | $43,060 | $104,220 | 750 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $77,230, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $63,161 a year, or $5,263 a month and $2,429 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $77,230 buys what about $69,493 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 3 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Washington
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 Seattle: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Seattle?
$37.13 an hour on average, and $36.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Seattle?
About $63,161 a year ($5,263 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,230. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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