How much does a private detective and investigator make in San Diego?
Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $23.39 an hour or $4,054 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.39
- Vs. national median
- -5%
- Rank among cities
- 64 of 143
- Jobs in the area
- 280
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,510 | $20.44 | |
| 25th | $43,560 | $20.94 | |
| Median | $48,650 | $23.39 | |
| 75th | $64,080 | $30.81 | |
| 90th | $103,600 | $49.81 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators.
| San Francisco, CA | $70,150 |
| San Jose, CA | $64,060 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $61,680 |
| Riverside, CA | $59,490 |
| Oxnard, CA | $58,170 |
| Sacramento, CA | $51,130 |
| Stockton, CA | $50,220 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,970 |
| Fresno, CA | $43,590 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $43,230 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in San Diego, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a private detective and investigator make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $23.39 ($48,650 a year).
Do private detective and investigators make more in San Diego than the national average?
No: $48,650 against $51,220 nationally, 5% less.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $61,250, so San Diego pays 21% less.
Where does San Diego rank for private detective and investigator pay?
64 of 143 metro areas with data.
How much does a private detective and investigator make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $42,510 or less a year; the top 10% make $103,600 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.