Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,350 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Lexington earn between $39,130 and $56,080.
- $39K10th
- $39K25th
- $42KMedian
- $56K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,380 | $4,115 | $23.74 |
| Median | $41,930 | $3,494 | $20.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,130 | $3,261 | $18.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,080 | $4,673 | $26.96 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Lexington earn 3% less than the Kentucky average ($51,130) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $49,380 | $41,930 | $39,030 | $66,350 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $51,130 | $47,650 | $37,340 | $70,150 | 350 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $49,380, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $38,888 a year, or $3,241 a month and $1,496 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $49,380 buys what about $53,160 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($56,040).
- Louisville$56,040
- Lexington$49,380
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Kentucky
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 Lexington: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Lexington?
$23.74 an hour on average, and $20.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Lexington?
About $38,888 a year ($3,241 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,380. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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