SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Cleveland
Cleveland, OH · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Cleveland, OH is $45,660 per year, 10.9% below 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 Cleveland, OH is $45,660 per year, 10.9% below the national median of $51,220. Pay ranges from under $37,440 at the tenth percentile to more than $91,690 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $41,600 to $73,680.
The area has 180 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. Columbus leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $51,780. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 458th of 616 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,440 | −26.9% |
| 25th | $41,600 | −18.8% |
| Median (50th) | $45,660 | −10.9% |
| 75th | $73,680 | +43.9% |
| 90th | $91,690 | +79.0% |
| Mean | $55,520 | +8.4% |
Other metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus | $51,780 | 390 | |
| 2 | Dayton | $48,510 | 70 | |
| 3 | Cincinnati | $46,190 | 260 | |
| 4 | Youngstown | $43,740 | 40 | |
| 5 | Akron | $41,420 | 90 | |
| 6 | Toledo | $39,600 | 40 | |
| 7 | Canton | $38,750 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cleveland run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $45,660 goes as far as $49,203 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,203US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,660 a year, 10.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,440 to $91,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 180 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Columbus, at $51,780.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Cleveland, OH?
The median annual wage is $45,660, or $21.95 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 Cleveland, OH is 10.9% lower. 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 Cleveland, OH earns more than $91,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,440 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 Columbus, at $51,780 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 180 jobs in this occupation in Cleveland, OH. 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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