SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT · 2 metro areas compared
In Salt Lake City, UT the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators is $57,910 a year, which is 13.1% higher than the national figure of $51,220.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Salt Lake City, UT the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators is $57,910 a year, which is 13.1% higher than the national figure of $51,220. Half of workers earn between $51,370 and $60,400. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,700 and the ninetieth at $83,760.
The area has 240 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.26 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Ogden leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $55,450. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 325th of 585 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,700 | −24.4% |
| 25th | $51,370 | +0.3% |
| Median (50th) | $57,910 | +13.1% |
| 75th | $60,400 | +17.9% |
| 90th | $83,760 | +63.5% |
| Mean | $60,460 | +18.0% |
Other metro areas in Utah
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Salt Lake City sit close to the national average, so $57,910 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$57,910as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,554US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,910 a year, 13.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,700 to $83,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 240 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ogden, at $55,450.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Salt Lake City, UT?
The median annual wage is $57,910, or $27.84 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 Salt Lake City, UT is 13.1% higher. 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 Salt Lake City, UT earns more than $83,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,700 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 Ogden, at $55,450 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 240 jobs in this occupation in Salt Lake City, UT. 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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