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

$45,390a year

Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area. That is $21.82 an hour or $3,783 a month.

Hourly: $21.82
Vs. national median: -11%
Rank among cities: 91 of 143
Jobs in the area: 180

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $36,330Median: $45,390Highest 10%: $86,390

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$36,330	$17.47
25th	$37,000	$17.79
Median	$45,390	$21.82
75th	$62,540	$30.07
90th	$86,390	$41.53

Other cities in North Carolina

Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators.

Charlotte, NC	$73,430
Asheville, NC	$53,900
Greenville, NC	$51,010
Virginia Beach, VA	$45,990
Winston-Salem, NC	$42,660
Greensboro, NC	$41,630
Fayetteville, NC	$38,500

Private Detective and Investigator salary in North Carolina Private Detective and Investigator salary in all states

Related jobs in Raleigh

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$102,600
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$78,470
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$77,210
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$77,210
Fire Inspector and Investigator	$77,120
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$71,950
Transportation Security Screener	$65,940
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$65,860
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$61,710
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$54,070

Salaries for every job in Raleigh, NC

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly pay in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $21.82 ($45,390 a year).

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

No: $45,390 against $51,220 nationally, 11% less.

How does Raleigh compare with the rest of North Carolina?

The median in North Carolina is $52,890, so Raleigh pays 14% less.

Where does Raleigh rank for private detective and investigator pay?

91 of 143 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $36,330 or less a year; the top 10% make $86,390 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.