Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Fort Smith
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,330 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Fort Smith earn between $38,650 and $54,330.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $46KMedian
- $54K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,790 | $3,899 | $22.50 |
| Median | $46,380 | $3,865 | $22.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,650 | $3,221 | $18.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,330 | $4,528 | $26.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Fort Smith vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Fort Smith earn 19% less than the Arkansas average ($57,940) and 22% less than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $46,790 | $46,380 | $37,340 | $54,330 | 40 |
| Arkansas | $57,940 | $47,750 | $35,990 | $107,930 | 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 Fort Smith
On the average salary of $46,790, a single filer in Fort Smith takes home about $38,532 a year, or $3,211 a month and $1,482 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in AR | $38,532 | $3,211 |
| Working in OK | $38,216 | $3,185 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Is Fort Smith a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Smith area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $46,790 buys what about $54,478 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Smith ($39,560). A typical home costs $205,554, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Arkansas cities
Fort Smith ranks 2nd of 2 Arkansas metro areas for this job; Little Rock pays the most ($54,120).
- Little Rock$54,120
- Fort Smith$46,790
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Arkansas
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Fort Smith: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Fort Smith?
$22.49 an hour on average, and $22.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Fort Smith?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Fort Smith?
About $38,532 a year ($3,211 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,790. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Fort Smith than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Fort Smith, AR-OK (22900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- 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). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.61, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.