Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,090 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Lafayette earn between $35,740 and $45,650.
- $29K10th
- $36K25th
- $40KMedian
- $46K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,870 | $3,489 | $20.13 |
| Median | $39,800 | $3,317 | $19.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,740 | $2,978 | $17.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,650 | $3,804 | $21.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Lafayette earn 9% less than the Louisiana average ($46,110) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $41,870 | $39,800 | $28,590 | $54,090 | 100 |
| Louisiana | $46,110 | $41,950 | $35,000 | $67,690 | 860 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $41,870, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $34,953 a year, or $2,913 a month and $1,344 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $41,870 buys what about $48,011 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 5th of 5 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Baton Rouge pays the most ($49,920).
- Baton Rouge$49,920
- Slidell$48,500
- New Orleans$46,510
- Shreveport$41,880
- Lafayette$41,870
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Louisiana
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 Lafayette: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Lafayette?
$20.13 an hour on average, and $19.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $34,953 a year ($2,913 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,870.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 2.46, this job is 2.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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