Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX is $57,620/year ($27.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $63,987 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,103/month, or 27.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $58K get you in Beaumont-Port Arthur?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Beaumont-Port Arthur’s Regional Price Parity (90.05). 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 private detectives and investigators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Beaumont-Port Arthur
Beaumont-Port Arthur sits well above the national pay line for private detectives and investigators, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,103/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for private detectives and investigators in metros near Beaumont-Port Arthur, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $61K | $60K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $46K | $47K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $57K | $60K |
| El Paso | $38K | $42K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Private Detectives and Investigators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $76K | +49% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $75K | +46% | 400 |
| District of Columbia | $73K | +42% | N/A |
| Vermont | $68K | +33% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | +28% | 280 |
| Washington | $64K | +25% | 750 |
| California | $61K | +20% | 4,190 |
| Arizona | $61K | +19% | 790 |
| Illinois | $60K | +18% | 1,300 |
| New York | $59K | +15% | 1,300 |
| Utah | $58K | +13% | 350 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +13% | 600 |
| Virginia | $56K | +10% | 1,280 |
| Delaware | $56K | +9% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $55K | +7% | 410 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | +7% | 60 |
| Wyoming | $54K | +6% | 40 |
| Alaska | $53K | +4% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $53K | +3% | 1,710 |
| Texas | $52K | +1% | 3,220 |
| Nebraska | $52K | +1% | 160 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +1% | 620 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | -0% | 1,220 |
| Florida | $51K | -1% | 3,660 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | -2% | 280 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -4% | 940 |
| Colorado | $49K | -5% | 540 |
| Michigan | $49K | -5% | 850 |
| Idaho | $48K | -6% | 210 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -7% | 370 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -7% | 350 |
| Montana | $47K | -7% | 70 |
| Ohio | $47K | -8% | 1,560 |
| Alabama | $47K | -9% | 530 |
| West Virginia | $46K | -9% | 170 |
| Hawaii | $46K | -11% | 70 |
| Kansas | $45K | -12% | 280 |
| Georgia | $45K | -12% | 1,460 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -12% | 60 |
| North Dakota | $44K | -13% | 60 |
| Maine | $44K | -14% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $42K | -18% | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $42K | -18% | 410 |
| Indiana | $42K | -18% | 480 |
| Missouri | $42K | -19% | 590 |
| New Mexico | $42K | -19% | N/A |
| Iowa | $41K | -20% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -23% | 370 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -24% | 330 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Beaumont-Port Arthur numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Beaumont-Port Arthur?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 27.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,103/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for private detectives and investigators in Beaumont-Port Arthur?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,029/month. At HUD’s $1,103/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is private detectives and investigator a high-paying job in Beaumont-Port Arthur?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $58K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Beaumont-Port Arthur compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
Beaumont-Port Arthur pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX?
The median is $57,620 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,820, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $94,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Beaumont-Port Arthur?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,028/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,103/month, which eats 27.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a private detectives and investigators salary go in Beaumont-Port Arthur?
Beaumont-Port Arthur has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 private detectives and investigators salary is worth about $63,987 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do private detectives and 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.