Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,080 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Portland earn between $56,920 and $93,620.
- $45K10th
- $57K25th
- $78KMedian
- $94K75th
- $112K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,440 | $6,453 | $37.23 |
| Median | $78,330 | $6,528 | $37.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,920 | $4,743 | $27.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,620 | $7,802 | $45.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Portland earn 4% more than the Oregon average ($74,690) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +53% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $77,440 | $78,330 | $45,090 | $112,080 | 270 |
| Oregon | $74,690 | $76,480 | $44,610 | $97,500 | 610 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $77,440, a single filer in Portland takes home about $57,809 a year, or $4,817 a month and $2,223 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $63,309 | $5,276 |
| Working in OR | $57,809 | $4,817 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $77,440 buys what about $73,458 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 2nd of 3 Oregon metro areas for this job; Salem pays the most ($78,540).
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 Portland: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Portland?
$37.23 an hour on average, and $37.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Portland?
About $57,809 a year ($4,817 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,440. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% more 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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