SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · 2 metro areas compared
In Grand Rapids, MI the median wage is $42,140.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Grand Rapids, MI the median wage is $42,140. That is 17.7% lower than the national median of $51,220. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,560 and $73,730. The lowest tenth earn under $36,180, while the highest tenth earn more than $94,280.
The area has 80 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.60 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Detroit leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,690. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 447th of 572 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,180 | −29.4% |
| 25th | $37,560 | −26.7% |
| Median (50th) | $42,140 | −17.7% |
| 75th | $73,730 | +43.9% |
| 90th | $94,280 | +84.1% |
| Mean | $53,830 | +5.1% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Grand Rapids run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $42,140 goes as far as $43,805 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,805US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,140 a year, 17.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,180 to $94,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Detroit, at $47,690.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median annual wage is $42,140, or $20.26 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 Grand Rapids, MI is 17.7% 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 Grand Rapids, MI earns more than $94,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,180 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 Detroit, at $47,690 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Grand Rapids, MI. 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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