How much does a private detective and investigator make in Madison?

$42,320a year

Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $20.35 an hour or $3,527 a month.

Hourly: $20.35
Vs. national median: -17%
Rank among cities: 112 of 143
Jobs in the area: 60

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $37,860Median: $42,320Highest 10%: $65,620

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$37,860	$18.20
25th	$39,840	$19.15
Median	$42,320	$20.35
75th	$64,290	$30.91
90th	$65,620	$31.55

Other cities in Wisconsin

Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators.

Minneapolis, MN	$70,220
Milwaukee, WI	$41,850

Private Detective and Investigator salary in Wisconsin Private Detective and Investigator salary in all states

Related jobs in Madison

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$117,100
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$102,800
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$100,400
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$85,180
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$80,580
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$76,250
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$60,710
Protective Service Worker	$59,140
Firefighter	$56,430
Transportation Security Screener	$49,940

Salaries for every job in Madison, WI

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private detective and investigator make an hour in Madison?

The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $20.35 ($42,320 a year).

Do private detective and investigators make more in Madison than the national average?

No: $42,320 against $51,220 nationally, 17% less.

How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?

The median in Wisconsin is $41,850, so Madison pays 1% more.

Where does Madison rank for private detective and investigator pay?

112 of 143 metro areas with data.

How much does a private detective and investigator make starting out in Madison?

The lowest-paid 10% make $37,860 or less a year; the top 10% make $65,620 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.