Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,620 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Madison earn between $39,840 and $64,290.
- $38K10th
- $40K25th
- $42KMedian
- $64K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,090 | $4,424 | $25.52 |
| Median | $42,320 | $3,527 | $20.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,840 | $3,320 | $19.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,290 | $5,358 | $30.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Madison earn 5% more than the Wisconsin average ($50,660) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $53,090 | $42,320 | $37,860 | $65,620 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $50,660 | $41,850 | $37,000 | $76,550 | 410 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $53,090, a single filer in Madison takes home about $43,109 a year, or $3,592 a month and $1,658 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $53,090 buys what about $54,570 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Madison$53,090
- Milwaukee$48,620
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Wisconsin
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 Madison: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Madison?
$25.52 an hour on average, and $20.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Madison?
About $43,109 a year ($3,592 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,090.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Madison 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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