How much does a private detective and investigator make in San Francisco?
Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $33.73 an hour or $5,846 a month.
- Hourly
- $33.73
- Vs. national median
- +37%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 143
- Jobs in the area
- 430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,380 | $22.30 | |
| 25th | $50,090 | $24.08 | |
| Median | $70,150 | $33.73 | |
| 75th | $103,100 | $49.55 | |
| 90th | $119,000 | $57.21 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators.
| 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 |
| San Diego, CA | $48,650 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,970 |
| Fresno, CA | $43,590 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $43,230 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in San Francisco, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a private detective and investigator make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $33.73 ($70,150 a year).
Do private detective and investigators make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $70,150 against $51,220 nationally, 37% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $61,250, so San Francisco pays 15% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for private detective and investigator pay?
11 of 143 metro areas with data.
How much does a private detective and investigator make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $46,380 or less a year; the top 10% make $119,000 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.