Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC is $50,530/year ($24.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.64), which stretches that salary to about $53,962 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,465/month — about 44.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach’s Regional Price Parity (93.64). 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
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $77K | +48% | 480 |
| Maryland | $74K | +42% | 560 |
| Illinois | $73K | +40% | 1,770 |
| Minnesota | $72K | +38% | 940 |
| Connecticut | $68K | +30% | 400 |
| Wyoming | $67K | +29% | 40 |
| Vermont | $66K | +26% | N/A |
| Washington | $65K | +25% | 840 |
| Arizona | $65K | +24% | 980 |
| California | $60K | +15% | 5,260 |
| New York | $60K | +14% | 1,850 |
| Massachusetts | $58K | +10% | 480 |
| North Carolina | $55K | +5% | 1,370 |
| Alaska | $54K | +3% | 80 |
| South Carolina | $54K | +3% | 650 |
| Nebraska | $52K | -0% | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $52K | -1% | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $52K | -1% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $52K | -2% | 790 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | -2% | 1,550 |
| Utah | $51K | -2% | 360 |
| Ohio | $50K | -4% | 1,360 |
| Michigan | $50K | -5% | 980 |
| Delaware | $49K | -6% | 120 |
| Maine | $49K | -6% | 200 |
| Florida | $49K | -7% | 3,780 |
| Virginia | $49K | -7% | 900 |
| Idaho | $48K | -8% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -8% | 490 |
| Texas | $48K | -8% | 3,440 |
| Montana | $48K | -9% | 60 |
| Nevada | $48K | -9% | 420 |
| Alabama | $47K | -10% | 580 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -11% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -11% | 690 |
| North Dakota | $46K | -13% | 60 |
| Indiana | $45K | -13% | 560 |
| Iowa | $45K | -14% | 140 |
| Kansas | $45K | -14% | 270 |
| New Mexico | $45K | -14% | 190 |
| Georgia | $45K | -15% | 1,340 |
| Hawaii | $44K | -15% | 60 |
| Missouri | $44K | -16% | 450 |
| Louisiana | $43K | -17% | 890 |
| Arkansas | $43K | -17% | 360 |
| Wisconsin | $43K | -17% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -23% | 320 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -25% | 370 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
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 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC?
The median is $50,530 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,620, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $89,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,419/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,465/month, which eats 42.8% 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 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 93.64 (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 $53,962 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.