Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Wichita
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,260 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Wichita earn between $36,250 and $58,750.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $59K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,130 | $4,011 | $23.14 |
| Median | $37,940 | $3,162 | $18.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,250 | $3,021 | $17.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,750 | $4,896 | $28.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Wichita vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Wichita earn 4% less than the Kansas average ($50,220) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $48,130 | $37,940 | $33,480 | $74,260 | 80 |
| Kansas | $50,220 | $45,260 | $35,810 | $76,520 | 280 |
| 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 Wichita
On the average salary of $48,130, a single filer in Wichita takes home about $38,966 a year, or $3,247 a month and $1,499 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wichita a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wichita area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.9), so the average $48,130 buys what about $54,111 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wichita ($47,630). A typical home costs $225,557, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- Tulsa, OK$49,710
- Oklahoma City, OK$45,410
- Kansas City, MO$50,070
- Fort Smith, AR$46,790
- Lincoln, NE$61,760
- Springfield, MO$45,020
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 Wichita: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Wichita?
$23.14 an hour on average, and $18.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Wichita?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Wichita?
About $38,966 a year ($3,247 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,130.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Wichita 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 Wichita, KS (48620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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