Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Utah is $57,910/year ($27.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $58,768 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,350/month, about 35.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Utah?
About private detectives and investigators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Utah
Utah sits well above the national pay line for private detectives and investigators, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,350/month, which is 35.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary by metro in Utah
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $58K | +0% | 240 |
| Ogden | $55K | -4% | 40 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $55K | -4% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 35.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,321/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Utah?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $58K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
Utah pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Utah?
The median is $57,910 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,690, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $89,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,823/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 35.3% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $58,768 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.