Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators Salary
The median pay for a gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators in Pittsburgh, PA is $38,030/year ($18.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $40,171 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,299/month, about 49.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $38K get you in Pittsburgh?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators
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What this looks like in Pittsburgh
Pay for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators in Pittsburgh runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $43K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,299/month, which is 49.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.67 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigatorss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators in metros near Pittsburgh, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $45K | $44K |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $48K | $48K |
| Cincinnati | $46K | $48K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $56K | $50K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $62K | +42% | 80 |
| Connecticut | $56K | +30% | 180 |
| Oregon | $50K | +16% | 70 |
| Arizona | $50K | +15% | 380 |
| New York | $49K | +13% | 170 |
| New Jersey | $49K | +12% | 270 |
| Maryland | $48K | +11% | 120 |
| Indiana | $47K | +8% | 380 |
| North Dakota | $47K | +8% | 120 |
| Michigan | $47K | +7% | 330 |
| Nevada | $47K | +7% | 820 |
| Ohio | $46K | +6% | 190 |
| Washington | $46K | +5% | 470 |
| California | $45K | +3% | 990 |
| Colorado | $44K | +2% | 100 |
| Minnesota | $44K | +2% | 210 |
| Illinois | $43K | -1% | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $42K | -3% | 260 |
| Virginia | $42K | -3% | N/A |
| Florida | $39K | -10% | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $39K | -10% | 570 |
| Delaware | $39K | -10% | 50 |
| Missouri | $39K | -10% | 230 |
| Idaho | $39K | -10% | 50 |
| Alabama | $37K | -15% | 70 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -15% | 110 |
| Kansas | $37K | -15% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -16% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -17% | 1,310 |
| Iowa | $36K | -18% | 230 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -18% | 240 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -19% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $34K | -22% | 240 |
| South Dakota | $34K | -22% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 34 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pittsburgh numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pittsburgh?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 49.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,299/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators in Pittsburgh?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,136/month. At HUD’s $1,299/month FMR, rent would take 61% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigator a high-paying job in Pittsburgh?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $38K here vs. $43K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pittsburgh compare to the national average for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators?
Pittsburgh pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $38,030 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,600, and experienced gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators can clear $64,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,619/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 49.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators salary go in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators salary is worth about $40,171 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.