33
Private Detectives and Investigators is a notable career in the 33 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Private Detectives and Investigators against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 33-9021 |
| title | Private Detectives and Investigators |
| onet code | 33-9021.00 |
| description | Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment. |
| job zone | 3 |
| major group | 33 |
| tot emp | 38,700 |
| a mean | 61,680 |
| a median | 52,370 |
| a pct10 | 37,250 |
| a pct25 | 41,940 |
| a pct75 | 75,310 |
| a pct90 | 98,770 |
| h mean | 29 |
| h median | 25 |
The day-to-day work of a private detectives and investigators typically centers on write reports or case summaries to document investigations. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.69 out of 5 — highly rated for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working private detectives and investigators, the most common entry qualification is a Bachelor's Degree (37.7%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 42% of incumbents. Entry pathways are mixed; a meaningful minority enters without a four-year degree.
Median annual pay is highest in Oregon at $77,320 and lowest in Mississippi at $39,460 — a 2.0× spread. The top five states (Oregon, Maryland, Illinois, Minnesota, Connecticut) average $73,022. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $77,320 | $75,590 | $43,310 | $97,500 | 480 |
| Maryland | $74,360 | $84,950 | $41,580 | $132,340 | 560 |
| Illinois | $73,070 | $71,380 | $40,710 | $98,800 | 1,770 |
| Minnesota | $72,070 | $69,860 | $42,220 | $101,950 | 940 |
| Connecticut | $68,290 | $64,200 | $38,680 | $89,580 | 400 |
| Wyoming | $67,360 | $64,540 | $43,230 | $81,770 | 40 |
| Vermont | $66,070 | $62,950 | $40,000 | $88,450 | — |
| Washington | $65,370 | $72,710 | $43,510 | $100,890 | 840 |
| Arizona | $64,960 | $70,250 | $38,580 | $110,850 | 980 |
| California | $60,210 | $67,140 | $42,430 | $102,180 | 5,260 |
| New York | $59,840 | $73,290 | $42,680 | $113,220 | 1,850 |
| Massachusetts | $57,840 | $67,190 | $40,910 | $125,380 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $55,190 | $62,490 | $36,150 | $99,550 | 1,370 |
| Alaska | $54,080 | $62,310 | $40,090 | $100,170 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $53,890 | $61,700 | $37,840 | $100,450 | 650 |
| Nebraska | $52,160 | $61,020 | $39,920 | $92,170 | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $51,990 | $57,830 | $40,710 | $72,810 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $51,610 | $59,440 | $38,000 | $79,940 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $51,540 | $62,080 | $40,350 | $100,910 | 790 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,220 | $62,050 | $39,620 | $89,300 | 1,550 |
| Utah | $51,130 | $57,700 | $38,660 | $85,120 | 360 |
| Ohio | $50,060 | $56,050 | $36,950 | $80,290 | 1,360 |
| Colorado | $49,720 | $59,800 | $42,130 | $87,260 | 580 |
| Michigan | $49,700 | $55,580 | $36,230 | $87,760 | 980 |
| Delaware | $49,400 | $55,500 | $44,510 | $71,520 | 120 |
| Maine | $49,360 | $52,170 | $39,840 | $72,180 | 200 |
| Florida | $48,880 | $57,240 | $34,580 | $96,540 | 3,780 |
| Virginia | $48,740 | $61,010 | $34,690 | $103,910 | 900 |
| Idaho | $48,170 | $50,420 | $38,520 | $65,980 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $48,130 | $52,710 | $38,500 | $71,260 | 490 |
| Texas | $48,070 | $58,630 | $35,890 | $99,600 | 3,440 |
| Montana | $47,910 | $54,260 | $41,050 | $79,200 | 60 |
| Nevada | $47,550 | $70,010 | $40,250 | $187,200 | 420 |
| Alabama | $47,180 | $51,790 | $33,550 | $83,290 | 580 |
| West Virginia | $46,830 | $49,880 | $22,090 | $77,700 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $46,560 | $59,230 | $37,150 | $105,140 | 690 |
| North Dakota | $45,710 | $48,050 | $31,110 | $64,820 | 60 |
| Indiana | $45,400 | $52,140 | $36,930 | $80,910 | 560 |
| Iowa | $45,070 | $51,930 | $38,490 | $64,730 | 140 |
| Kansas | $45,020 | $48,870 | $34,000 | $64,990 | 270 |
| New Mexico | $44,870 | $51,790 | $36,020 | $67,250 | 190 |
| Georgia | $44,590 | $55,190 | $37,810 | $92,780 | 1,340 |
| Hawaii | $44,390 | $56,750 | $42,330 | $80,170 | 60 |
| Missouri | $43,780 | $49,750 | $37,130 | $68,330 | 450 |
| Louisiana | $43,390 | $47,520 | $35,350 | $70,170 | 890 |
| Arkansas | $43,310 | $54,090 | $35,350 | $109,010 | 360 |
| Wisconsin | $43,210 | $51,550 | $36,220 | $74,240 | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $40,470 | $47,780 | $36,420 | $63,980 | 320 |
| Mississippi | $39,460 | $48,380 | $27,790 | $91,830 | 370 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for private detectives and investigators. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Alarm Investigator or AML Investigator (Anti Money Laundering Investigator) frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Private Detectives and Investigators compares to others in the 33 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Private Detectives and Investigators
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.