SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Arizona
Arizona · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Arizona is $61,030 per year, 19.2% above the national median of $51,220.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Arizona is $61,030 per year, 19.2% above the national median of $51,220. Half of workers earn between $41,450 and $79,790. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,240 and the ninetieth at $92,160.
Employment stands at 790, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Arizona ranks number 8th out of 49 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Phoenix records the highest median at $64,400. Of the 712 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 345th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,240 | −25.3% |
| 25th | $41,450 | −19.1% |
| Median (50th) | $61,030 | +19.2% |
| 75th | $79,790 | +55.8% |
| 90th | $92,160 | +79.9% |
| Mean | $62,410 | +21.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arizona
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arizona sit close to the national average, so $61,030 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$61,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,606US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,030 a year, 19.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,240 to $92,160 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 790 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Phoenix, at $64,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Arizona?
The median annual wage is $61,030, or $29.34 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $51,220, so pay in Arizona is 19.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arizona earns more than $92,160 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,240 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Phoenix, at $64,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 790 jobs in this occupation in Arizona. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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