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.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Colorado?
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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 |
Compare to other states
Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
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 $2,467/month.
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%.
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. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a private detectives and investigators salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median private detectives and investigators salary is worth about $48,730 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.