Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Lakeland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,860 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Lakeland earn between $36,200 and $58,230.
- $36K10th
- $36K25th
- $40KMedian
- $58K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,870 | $4,239 | $24.46 |
| Median | $39,690 | $3,308 | $19.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,200 | $3,017 | $17.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,230 | $4,852 | $28.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Lakeland vs. Florida and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Lakeland earn 9% less than the Florida average ($55,820) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | $50,870 | $39,690 | $36,200 | $85,860 | 130 |
| Florida | $55,820 | $50,640 | $35,990 | $85,830 | 3,660 |
| 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 Lakeland
On the average salary of $50,870, a single filer in Lakeland takes home about $43,054 a year, or $3,588 a month and $1,656 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Lakeland a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lakeland area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $50,870 buys what about $52,367 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Lakeland ($46,140). A typical home costs $298,816, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Florida cities
Lakeland ranks 15th of 16 Florida metro areas for this job; Deltona pays the most ($63,060).
- Deltona$63,060
- Miami$58,660
- Pensacola$55,930
- Crestview$55,560
- Port St. Lucie$55,200
- Tampa$54,910
- Sarasota$54,880
- Tallahassee$54,490
- Gainesville$54,140
- Lakeland$50,870
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Florida
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 Lakeland: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Lakeland?
$24.46 an hour on average, and $19.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Lakeland?
About $43,054 a year ($3,588 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,870. Florida has no state income tax.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Lakeland than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (29460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.08, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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