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

$62,300a year

Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $29.95 an hour or $5,192 a month.

Hourly
$29.95
Vs. national median
+22%
Rank among cities
19 of 143
Jobs in the area
790
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,450Median: $62,300Highest 10%: $117,900
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$40,450$19.45
25th$56,150$27.00
Median$62,300$29.95
75th$89,970$43.25
90th$117,900$56.70

Other cities in District of Columbia

Median yearly pay for private detective and investigators.

No other city in the state with data.
Private Detective and Investigator salary in District of Columbia Private Detective and Investigator salary in all states

Related jobs in Washington

Same field, median yearly pay.

Detective and Criminal Investigator$156,800
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$126,000
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$118,600
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$99,510
Fire Inspector and Investigator$87,630
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$84,000
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$73,490
Correctional Officer and Jailer$70,570
Transportation Security Screener$69,910
Firefighter$66,980
Salaries for every job in Washington, DC

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $29.95 ($62,300 a year).

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

Yes: $62,300 against $51,220 nationally, 22% more.

How does Washington compare with the rest of District of Columbia?

The median in District of Columbia is $72,720, so Washington pays 14% less.

Where does Washington rank for private detective and investigator pay?

19 of 143 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $40,450 or less a year; the top 10% make $117,900 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.