Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Colorado is $48,730/year ($23.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $46,987 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 54.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $49K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About private detectives and investigators
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What this looks like in Colorado
Private detectives and investigators pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 56.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary by metro in Colorado
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $63K | +28% | 40 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $52K | +7% | 340 |
| Colorado Springs | $42K | -14% | 50 |
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Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 56.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for private detectives and investigators in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,772/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
Colorado pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Colorado?
The median is $48,730 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,110, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $86,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,254/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 56.3% 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 private detectives and investigators salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median private detectives and investigators salary is worth about $46,987 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.