Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL is $48,380/year ($23.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.3), that's roughly $49,723 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $48K get you in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Panama City-Panama City Beach’s Regional Price Parity (97.3). 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
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $30K 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL?
The median is $48,380 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,440, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $67,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,409/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 29.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a private detectives and investigators salary go in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Panama City-Panama City Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 97.3 (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 $49,723 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.