Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,350 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Albuquerque earn between $36,650 and $64,280.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $42KMedian
- $64K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,450 | $4,288 | $24.74 |
| Median | $41,680 | $3,473 | $20.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,650 | $3,054 | $17.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,280 | $5,357 | $30.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Albuquerque earn 4% more than the New Mexico average ($49,550) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $51,450 | $41,680 | $35,600 | $66,350 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $49,550 | $41,600 | $35,660 | $66,350 | n/a |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $51,450, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $42,268 a year, or $3,522 a month and $1,626 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Albuquerque a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $51,450 buys what about $53,848 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- El Paso, TX$44,450
- Colorado Springs, CO$47,980
- Lubbock, TX$45,660
- Denver, CO$61,390
- Phoenix, AZ$64,950
- Tucson, AZ$48,210
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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Albuquerque?
$24.73 an hour on average, and $20.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $42,268 a year ($3,522 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,450.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.