SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Indiana
Indiana · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Indiana is $41,830 per year, 18.3% below 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 Indiana is $41,830 per year, 18.3% below the national median of $51,220. Pay ranges from under $36,500 at the tenth percentile to more than $77,000 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,990 to $53,590.
The area has 480 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, Indiana ranks 44th by median wage. Evansville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $48,280. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 615th of 753 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,500 | −28.7% |
| 25th | $37,990 | −25.8% |
| Median (50th) | $41,830 | −18.3% |
| 75th | $53,590 | +4.6% |
| 90th | $77,000 | +50.3% |
| Mean | $49,080 | −4.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evansville | $48,280 | 30 | |
| 2 | Indianapolis | $44,550 | 140 | |
| 3 | Fort Wayne | $39,220 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $41,830 goes as far as $44,834 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$41,830as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,834US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $41,830 a year, 18.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,500 to $77,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 480 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 44th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Evansville, at $48,280.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Indiana?
The median annual wage is $41,830, or $20.11 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 Indiana is 18.3% 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 Indiana earns more than $77,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,500 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 Evansville, at $48,280 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 480 jobs in this occupation in Indiana. 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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