Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in North Dakota is $44,310/year ($21.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $49,848 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,034/month, about 33.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $44K get you in North Dakota?
About private detectives and investigators
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for private detectives and investigators in North Dakota runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,034/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/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 North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,963/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 North Dakota?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $44K here vs. $51K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
North Dakota pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in North Dakota?
The median is $44,310 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,710, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $61,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,065/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 33.7% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $49,848 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.