How much does a private detective and investigator make in San Jose?
Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $30.80 an hour or $5,338 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.80
- Vs. national median
- +25%
- Rank among cities
- 16 of 143
- Jobs in the area
- 190
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,000 | $22.12 | |
| 25th | $50,260 | $24.16 | |
| Median | $64,060 | $30.80 | |
| 75th | $92,610 | $44.52 | |
| 90th | $130,400 | $62.67 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators.
| San Francisco, CA | $70,150 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in San Jose, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a private detective and investigator make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $30.80 ($64,060 a year).
Do private detective and investigators make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $64,060 against $51,220 nationally, 25% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $61,250, so San Jose pays 5% more.
Where does San Jose rank for private detective and investigator pay?
16 of 143 metro areas with data.
How much does a private detective and investigator make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $46,000 or less a year; the top 10% make $130,400 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.