Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Allentown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,330 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Allentown earn between $45,880 and $50,710.
- $38K10th
- $46K25th
- $51KMedian
- $51K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,640 | $4,387 | $25.31 |
| Median | $50,710 | $4,226 | $24.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,880 | $3,823 | $22.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,710 | $4,226 | $24.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Allentown vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Allentown earn 12% less than the Pennsylvania average ($59,880) and 12% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $52,640 | $50,710 | $38,030 | $73,330 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,880 | $51,200 | $38,380 | $91,470 | 1,220 |
| 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 Allentown
On the average salary of $52,640, a single filer in Allentown takes home about $42,860 a year, or $3,572 a month and $1,648 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $43,116 | $3,593 |
| Working in PA | $42,860 | $3,572 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Allentown a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Allentown area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.0), so the average $52,640 buys what about $52,657 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Allentown ($48,990). A typical home costs $363,989, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Allentown ranks 4th of 6 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Harrisburg pays the most ($67,380).
- Harrisburg$67,380
- Philadelphia$62,090
- Pittsburgh$53,540
- Allentown$52,640
- Reading$51,150
- Scranton$50,060
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Allentown: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Allentown?
$25.31 an hour on average, and $24.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Allentown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Allentown?
About $42,860 a year ($3,572 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,640. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Allentown than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (10900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
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