Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Virginia Beach
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,670 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Virginia Beach earn between $36,050 and $53,440.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $46KMedian
- $53K75th
- $70K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,290 | $4,024 | $23.22 |
| Median | $45,990 | $3,832 | $22.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,050 | $3,004 | $17.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,440 | $4,453 | $25.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Virginia Beach vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Virginia Beach earn 22% less than the Virginia average ($61,940) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $48,290 | $45,990 | $32,810 | $69,670 | 210 |
| 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 Virginia Beach
On the average salary of $48,290, a single filer in Virginia Beach takes home about $39,018 a year, or $3,252 a month and $1,501 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $39,563 | $3,297 |
| Working in VA | $39,018 | $3,252 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Virginia Beach a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Virginia Beach area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $48,290 buys what about $49,305 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Virginia Beach ($49,430). A typical home costs $373,678, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Virginia cities
Virginia Beach ranks 2nd of 2 Virginia metro areas for this job; Richmond pays the most ($63,490).
- 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Virginia Beach: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Virginia Beach?
$23.22 an hour on average, and $22.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Virginia Beach?
About $39,018 a year ($3,252 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,290.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Virginia Beach than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (47260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.