Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,200 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in New Orleans earn between $38,280 and $53,390.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $53K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,510 | $3,876 | $22.36 |
| Median | $43,500 | $3,625 | $20.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,280 | $3,190 | $18.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,390 | $4,449 | $25.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in New Orleans earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($46,110) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $46,510 | $43,500 | $35,990 | $66,200 | 250 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $46,510, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $38,542 a year, or $3,212 a month and $1,482 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 New Orleans a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $46,510 buys what about $50,228 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 3rd 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 New Orleans: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in New Orleans?
$22.36 an hour on average, and $20.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $38,542 a year ($3,212 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,510.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 2.49, this job is 2.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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