Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,640 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Hickory earn between $38,880 and $51,690.
- $35K10th
- $39K25th
- $45KMedian
- $52K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,210 | $3,934 | $22.70 |
| Median | $44,820 | $3,735 | $21.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,880 | $3,240 | $18.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $51,690 | $4,308 | $24.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Hickory earn 23% less than the North Carolina average ($61,350) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $47,210 | $44,820 | $35,260 | $54,640 | 30 |
| North Carolina | $61,350 | $52,890 | $36,600 | $98,560 | 1,710 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $47,210, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $38,738 a year, or $3,228 a month and $1,490 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 Hickory a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $47,210 buys what about $53,353 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 7th of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($74,090).
- Charlotte$74,090
- Greenville$56,700
- Raleigh$54,010
- Durham$51,800
- Asheville$50,720
- Greensboro$48,720
- Hickory$47,210
- Winston-Salem$46,130
- Fayetteville$44,860
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in North Carolina
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 Hickory: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Hickory?
$22.70 an hour on average, and $21.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Hickory?
About $38,738 a year ($3,228 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,210.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- 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 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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