SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — El Paso
El Paso, TX · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in El Paso, TX is $38,070 per year, substantially below the national median of $51,220 — a gap of 25.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in El Paso, TX is $38,070 per year, substantially below the national median of $51,220 — a gap of 25.7%. Half of workers earn between $36,580 and $52,820. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,950 and the ninetieth at $57,660.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Dallas records the highest median at $61,460. Of the 476 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 337th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,950 | −29.8% |
| 25th | $36,580 | −28.6% |
| Median (50th) | $38,070 | −25.7% |
| 75th | $52,820 | +3.1% |
| 90th | $57,660 | +12.6% |
| Mean | $44,450 | −13.2% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas | $61,460 | 1,070 | |
| 2 | Corpus Christi | $60,090 | 40 | |
| 3 | Beaumont | $57,620 | 50 | |
| 4 | San Antonio | $56,760 | 260 | |
| 5 | Tyler | $46,390 | 30 | |
| 6 | Houston | $46,110 | 710 | |
| 7 | McAllen | $37,090 | 50 | |
| 8 | Lubbock | $36,640 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in El Paso run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $38,070 goes as far as $39,207 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 23.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,207US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,070 a year, 25.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,950 to $57,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dallas, at $61,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in El Paso, TX?
The median annual wage is $38,070, or $18.30 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 El Paso, TX is 25.7% 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 El Paso, TX earns more than $57,660 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,950 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 Dallas, at $61,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in El Paso, 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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