SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Dallas
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Dallas, TX comes to $61,460 a year, ahead of the national median of $51,220 by 20.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Dallas, TX comes to $61,460 a year, ahead of the national median of $51,220 by 20.0%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,180 and $74,410. The lowest tenth earn under $36,320, while the highest tenth earn more than $107,830.
Employment stands at 1,070, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Corpus Christi leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $60,090. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 330th of 713 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,320 | −29.1% |
| 25th | $37,180 | −27.4% |
| Median (50th) | $61,460 | +20.0% |
| 75th | $74,410 | +45.3% |
| 90th | $107,830 | +110.5% |
| Mean | $62,630 | +22.3% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpus Christi | $60,090 | 40 | |
| 2 | Beaumont | $57,620 | 50 | |
| 3 | San Antonio | $56,760 | 260 | |
| 4 | Tyler | $46,390 | 30 | |
| 5 | Houston | $46,110 | 710 | |
| 6 | El Paso | $38,070 | 70 | |
| 7 | McAllen | $37,090 | 50 | |
| 8 | Lubbock | $36,640 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Dallas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $61,460 goes as far as $63,296 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 23.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,296US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,460 a year, 20.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,320 to $107,830 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,070 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Corpus Christi, at $60,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Dallas, TX?
The median annual wage is $61,460, or $29.55 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 Dallas, TX is 20.0% 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 Dallas, TX earns more than $107,830 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,320 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 Corpus Christi, at $60,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,070 jobs in this occupation in Dallas, TX. 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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