Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Spokane
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,540 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Spokane earn between $42,780 and $81,540.
- $38K10th
- $43K25th
- $61KMedian
- $82K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,220 | $5,185 | $29.91 |
| Median | $61,460 | $5,122 | $29.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,780 | $3,565 | $20.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,540 | $6,795 | $39.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Spokane vs. Washington and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Spokane earn 12% less than the Washington average ($71,020) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane | $62,220 | $61,460 | $38,350 | $81,540 | 90 |
| Washington | $71,020 | $64,080 | $43,060 | $104,220 | 750 |
| 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 Spokane
On the average salary of $62,220, a single filer in Spokane takes home about $52,174 a year, or $4,348 a month and $2,007 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Spokane a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Spokane area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $62,220 buys what about $62,005 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Spokane ($54,660). A typical home costs $423,842, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Washington cities
Spokane ranks 2nd of 3 Washington metro areas for this job; Seattle pays the most ($77,230).
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Washington
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 Spokane: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Spokane?
$29.91 an hour on average, and $29.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Spokane?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Spokane?
About $52,174 a year ($4,348 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,220. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Spokane than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA (44060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.7%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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