Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Syracuse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,470 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Syracuse earn between $43,660 and $55,920.
- $39K10th
- $44K25th
- $51KMedian
- $56K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,220 | $4,185 | $24.14 |
| Median | $50,730 | $4,228 | $24.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,660 | $3,638 | $20.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,920 | $4,660 | $26.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Syracuse vs. New York and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Syracuse earn 26% less than the New York average ($68,310) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | $50,220 | $50,730 | $39,260 | $64,470 | 40 |
| New York | $68,310 | $59,140 | $40,940 | $103,610 | 1,300 |
| 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 Syracuse
On the average salary of $50,220, a single filer in Syracuse takes home about $40,375 a year, or $3,365 a month and $1,553 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Syracuse a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Syracuse area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $50,220 buys what about $52,453 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Syracuse ($52,990). A typical home costs $264,903, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other New York cities
Syracuse ranks 6th of 6 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($71,950).
- New York$71,950
- Kiryas Joel$64,270
- Rochester$59,380
- Albany$59,320
- Buffalo$58,470
- Syracuse$50,220
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in New York
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 Syracuse: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Syracuse?
$24.15 an hour on average, and $24.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Syracuse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Syracuse?
About $40,375 a year ($3,365 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,220. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Syracuse than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Syracuse, NY (45060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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