SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Connecticut
Connecticut · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Connecticut is $75,010 per year, well 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 Connecticut is $75,010 per year, well above the national median of $51,220. The gap of 46.4% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $38,300 at the tenth percentile to more than $95,790 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $42,130 to $83,320.
Employment stands at 400, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, Connecticut ranks 2nd by median wage. Hartford leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $77,540. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 287th of 674 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,300 | −25.2% |
| 25th | $42,130 | −17.7% |
| Median (50th) | $75,010 | +46.4% |
| 75th | $83,320 | +62.7% |
| 90th | $95,790 | +87.0% |
| Mean | $66,560 | +29.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Connecticut
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford | $77,540 | 150 | |
| 2 | Waterbury | $76,630 | 50 | |
| 3 | New Haven | $65,030 | 70 | |
| 4 | Bridgeport | $64,080 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Connecticut run 3.6% above the national average, so the median of $75,010 buys what $72,403 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 41.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$75,010as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,403US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $75,010 a year, 46.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,300 to $95,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 400 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hartford, at $77,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Connecticut?
The median annual wage is $75,010, or $36.06 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 Connecticut is 46.4% 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 Connecticut earns more than $95,790 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,300 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 Hartford, at $77,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 400 jobs in this occupation in Connecticut. 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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