Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,020 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Tucson earn between $38,030 and $46,750.
- $38K10th
- $38K25th
- $41KMedian
- $47K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,210 | $4,018 | $23.18 |
| Median | $41,450 | $3,454 | $19.93 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,030 | $3,169 | $18.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,750 | $3,896 | $22.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Tucson earn 23% less than the Arizona average ($62,410) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $48,210 | $41,450 | $37,750 | $76,020 | 70 |
| Arizona | $62,410 | $61,030 | $38,240 | $92,160 | 790 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $48,210, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $40,105 a year, or $3,342 a month and $1,543 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $48,210 buys what about $49,754 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 2nd of 2 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($64,950).
- Phoenix$64,950
- Tucson$48,210
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Arizona
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 Tucson: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Tucson?
$23.18 an hour on average, and $19.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Tucson?
About $40,105 a year ($3,342 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,210.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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