SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Lakeland
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Lakeland, FL is $39,690 per year, 22.5% 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 Lakeland, FL is $39,690 per year, 22.5% below the national median of $51,220. Pay ranges from under $36,200 at the tenth percentile to more than $85,860 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,200 to $58,230.
The area has 130 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. 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 327th of 429 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,200 | −29.3% |
| 25th | $36,200 | −29.3% |
| Median (50th) | $39,690 | −22.5% |
| 75th | $58,230 | +13.7% |
| 90th | $85,860 | +67.6% |
| Mean | $50,870 | −0.7% |
Other 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 Lakeland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $39,690 buys what $38,385 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 25.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,690as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,385US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,690 a year, 22.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,200 to $85,860 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in 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 Lakeland, FL?
The median annual wage is $39,690, or $19.08 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 Lakeland, FL is 22.5% 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 Lakeland, FL earns more than $85,860 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,200 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 130 jobs in this occupation in Lakeland, FL. 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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