Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Scranton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,150 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Scranton earn between $43,260 and $54,540.
- $39K10th
- $43K25th
- $43KMedian
- $55K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,060 | $4,172 | $24.07 |
| Median | $43,420 | $3,618 | $20.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,260 | $3,605 | $20.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,540 | $4,545 | $26.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Scranton vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Scranton earn 16% less than the Pennsylvania average ($59,880) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton | $50,060 | $43,420 | $39,050 | $63,150 | 40 |
| 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 Scranton
On the average salary of $50,060, a single filer in Scranton takes home about $40,866 a year, or $3,406 a month and $1,572 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Scranton a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Scranton area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $50,060 buys what about $53,508 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Scranton ($46,330). A typical home costs $227,793, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Scranton ranks 6th 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 Scranton: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Scranton?
$24.07 an hour on average, and $20.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Scranton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Scranton?
About $40,866 a year ($3,406 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,060. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Scranton 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA (42540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.5%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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