How much does a private detective and investigator make in Houston?
Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. That is $22.17 an hour or $3,843 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.17
- Vs. national median
- -10%
- Rank among cities
- 85 of 143
- Jobs in the area
- 710
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,350 | $17.00 | |
| 25th | $36,500 | $17.55 | |
| Median | $46,110 | $22.17 | |
| 75th | $70,110 | $33.71 | |
| 90th | $94,260 | $45.32 |
Other cities in Texas
Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators.
| Dallas, TX | $61,460 |
| Beaumont, TX | $57,620 |
| San Antonio, TX | $56,760 |
| El Paso, TX | $38,070 |
| McAllen, TX | $37,090 |
Related jobs in Houston
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Houston, TXFrequently asked questions
How much does a private detective and investigator make an hour in Houston?
The median hourly pay in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $22.17 ($46,110 a year).
Do private detective and investigators make more in Houston than the national average?
No: $46,110 against $51,220 nationally, 10% less.
How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas?
The median in Texas is $51,810, so Houston pays 11% less.
Where does Houston rank for private detective and investigator pay?
85 of 143 metro areas with data.
How much does a private detective and investigator make starting out in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,350 or less a year; the top 10% make $94,260 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.