Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA is $61,460/year ($29.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.35), that's roughly $61,246 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,131/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $61K get you in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Spokane-Spokane Valley’s Regional Price Parity (100.35). 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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What this looks like in Spokane-Spokane Valley
Spokane-Spokane Valley sits well above the national pay line for private detectives and investigators, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,131/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.35) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for private detectives and investigators in metros near Spokane-Spokane Valley, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $76K | $68K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $57K | $55K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $78K | $74K |
| Salem | $81K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Private Detectives and Investigators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $76K | +49% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $75K | +46% | 400 |
| District of Columbia | $73K | +42% | N/A |
| Vermont | $68K | +33% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | +28% | 280 |
| Washington | $64K | +25% | 750 |
| California | $61K | +20% | 4,190 |
| Arizona | $61K | +19% | 790 |
| Illinois | $60K | +18% | 1,300 |
| New York | $59K | +15% | 1,300 |
| Utah | $58K | +13% | 350 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +13% | 600 |
| Virginia | $56K | +10% | 1,280 |
| Delaware | $56K | +9% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $55K | +7% | 410 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | +7% | 60 |
| Wyoming | $54K | +6% | 40 |
| Alaska | $53K | +4% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $53K | +3% | 1,710 |
| Texas | $52K | +1% | 3,220 |
| Nebraska | $52K | +1% | 160 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +1% | 620 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | -0% | 1,220 |
| Florida | $51K | -1% | 3,660 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | -2% | 280 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -4% | 940 |
| Colorado | $49K | -5% | 540 |
| Michigan | $49K | -5% | 850 |
| Idaho | $48K | -6% | 210 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -7% | 370 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -7% | 350 |
| Montana | $47K | -7% | 70 |
| Ohio | $47K | -8% | 1,560 |
| Alabama | $47K | -9% | 530 |
| West Virginia | $46K | -9% | 170 |
| Hawaii | $46K | -11% | 70 |
| Kansas | $45K | -12% | 280 |
| Georgia | $45K | -12% | 1,460 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -12% | 60 |
| North Dakota | $44K | -13% | 60 |
| Maine | $44K | -14% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $42K | -18% | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $42K | -18% | 410 |
| Indiana | $42K | -18% | 480 |
| Missouri | $42K | -19% | 590 |
| New Mexico | $42K | -19% | N/A |
| Iowa | $41K | -20% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -23% | 370 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -24% | 330 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
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 Spokane-Spokane Valley numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,131/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for private detectives and investigators in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,301/month. At HUD’s $1,131/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $61K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Spokane-Spokane Valley compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
Spokane-Spokane Valley pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.35), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
The median is $61,460 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,350, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $81,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,285/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,131/month, which eats 26.4% 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Spokane-Spokane Valley has a Regional Price Parity of 100.35 (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 $61,246 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.