Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,390 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Richmond earn between $39,300 and $78,710.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $52KMedian
- $79K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,490 | $5,291 | $30.52 |
| Median | $52,430 | $4,369 | $25.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,300 | $3,275 | $18.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,710 | $6,559 | $37.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Richmond earn about the same as the Virginia average ($61,940) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $63,490 | $52,430 | $37,180 | $101,390 | 130 |
| Virginia | $61,940 | $56,160 | $35,530 | $95,000 | 1,280 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $63,490, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $50,358 a year, or $4,196 a month and $1,937 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $63,490 buys what about $64,880 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 1st of 2 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Richmond$63,490
- Virginia Beach$48,290
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Virginia
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 Richmond: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Richmond?
$30.52 an hour on average, and $25.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Richmond?
About $50,358 a year ($4,196 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,490.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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