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The average salary for a Private Investigator in U.S. is $60,970.

Annual Average Salary Information

Annual Average Salary: $60,970

$32,130$98,070

Hourly Pay Information

Hourly Average Salary: $29.31

$15.45$47.15

What does a Private Investigator earn?

On average, private investigators earn around $60,970 per year in the U.S. Private investigators work with clients ranging from individuals to multinational organisations providing surveillance services, conducting investigations, and researching sensitive data. A private investigator can choose to specialise in a particular area such as fraud investigations, background checks, or surveillance operations.

How to earn more as a Private Investigator

To become a Private Investigator, you'll need to have extensive experience working in the field in addition to applicable qualifications. You can apply to a security agency or join a police team as a trainee, or take a course in private investigation. For higher income, you can specialise in a certain area, such as surveillance, or become self-employed. Additionally, you may have the option to create your own private investigation agency.