SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Florida
Florida · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Florida is $50,640 per year, close to the national median of $51,220 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Florida is $50,640 per year, close to the national median of $51,220 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $35,990 at the tenth percentile to more than $85,830 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $38,120 to $64,080.
Employment stands at 3,660, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, Florida ranks 24th by median wage. Deltona leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $59,350. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 431st of 777 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,990 | −29.7% |
| 25th | $38,120 | −25.6% |
| Median (50th) | $50,640 | −1.1% |
| 75th | $64,080 | +25.1% |
| 90th | $85,830 | +67.6% |
| Mean | $55,820 | +9.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deltona | $59,350 | 120 | |
| 2 | Tallahassee | $56,510 | 120 | |
| 3 | Crestview | $56,370 | 40 | |
| 4 | Miami | $54,720 | 1,030 | |
| 5 | North Port | $51,950 | 80 | |
| 6 | Gainesville | $51,580 | 40 | |
| 7 | Tampa | $51,390 | 660 | |
| 8 | Cape Coral | $49,870 | 90 | |
| 9 | Panama City | $48,630 | 40 | |
| 10 | Port St. Lucie | $48,430 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $50,640 buys what $48,975 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,640as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$48,975US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,640 a year, 1.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,990 to $85,830 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,660 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 24th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Deltona, at $59,350.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Florida?
The median annual wage is $50,640, or $24.35 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 Florida is 1.1% 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 Florida earns more than $85,830 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,990 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 Deltona, at $59,350 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,660 jobs in this occupation in Florida. 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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