Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Hawaii is $45,750/year ($21.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $41,527 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 70.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Hawaii?
About private detectives and investigators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Hawaii
Pay for private detectives and investigators in Hawaii runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 74.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for private detectives and investigatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary by metro in Hawaii
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $46K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 74.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,510/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 89% 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 Hawaii?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $46K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
Hawaii pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Hawaii?
The median is $45,750 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,830, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $83,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,995/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 74.8% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (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 $41,527 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.