Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Lansing
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $71,990 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Lansing earn between $36,730 and $55,750.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $38KMedian
- $56K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,930 | $3,911 | $22.56 |
| Median | $37,750 | $3,146 | $18.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,730 | $3,061 | $17.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,750 | $4,646 | $26.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary after taxes in Lansing
On the average salary of $46,930, a single filer in Lansing takes home about $37,729 a year, or $3,144 a month and $1,451 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Lansing's local income tax (1%).
Is Lansing a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lansing area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.0), so the average $46,930 buys what about $49,405 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lansing ($52,800). A typical home costs $250,377, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Michigan cities
Lansing ranks 3rd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Detroit pays the most ($54,780).
- Detroit$54,780
- Grand Rapids$53,830
- Lansing$46,930
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Michigan
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Lansing: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Lansing?
$22.56 an hour on average, and $18.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Lansing?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Lansing?
About $37,729 a year ($3,144 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,930. Includes Lansing's local income tax (1%).
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Lansing than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($61,015).
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 Lansing-East Lansing, MI (29620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes Lansing's local income tax (1%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.