Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,390 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Raleigh earn between $37,000 and $62,540.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $45KMedian
- $63K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,010 | $4,501 | $25.97 |
| Median | $45,390 | $3,782 | $21.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,000 | $3,083 | $17.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,540 | $5,212 | $30.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Raleigh earn 12% less than the North Carolina average ($61,350) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $54,010 | $45,390 | $36,330 | $86,390 | 180 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $54,010, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $43,931 a year, or $3,661 a month and $1,690 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $54,010 buys what about $55,024 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 3rd 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 Raleigh: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Raleigh?
$25.97 an hour on average, and $21.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $43,931 a year ($3,661 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,010.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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