Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Palm Bay
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,450 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Palm Bay earn between $36,560 and $60,200.
- $33K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $60K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,730 | $4,061 | $23.43 |
| Median | $39,260 | $3,272 | $18.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,560 | $3,047 | $17.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,200 | $5,017 | $28.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Palm Bay vs. Florida and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Palm Bay earn 13% less than the Florida average ($55,820) and 19% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay | $48,730 | $39,260 | $33,480 | $80,450 | 60 |
| 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 Palm Bay
On the average salary of $48,730, a single filer in Palm Bay takes home about $41,335 a year, or $3,445 a month and $1,590 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 Palm Bay a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Palm Bay area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.0), so the average $48,730 buys what about $48,728 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Palm Bay ($49,030). A typical home costs $344,841, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Florida cities
Palm Bay ranks 16th 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
- Palm Bay$48,730
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 Palm Bay: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Palm Bay?
$23.43 an hour on average, and $18.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Palm Bay?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Palm Bay?
About $41,335 a year ($3,445 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,730. Florida has no state income tax.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Palm Bay than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL (37340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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