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Private investigator salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$61,250median pay per year in California, or $29.45 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $42,600lowest 10% earn less
  2. $45,38025th percentile
  3. $61,250median
  4. $82,11075th percentile
  5. $103,410top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $51,220[3]

The median pay for private investigators in California was $61,250 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $10,030 higher than the US median for the job[6].

Jobs in CA
4,190[4]
Rank by median pay
7 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
+19.6%[6]

How much do private investigators make in California?

Half of the private investigators in California earned more than $61,250 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $29.45 an hour[1]. The average was a bit higher, at $67,040 a year[7]. Across the US as a whole, the median for the job was $51,220[3]. In California all jobs together had a median of $58,240, so private investigators were $3,010 above that[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,600 a year[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $103,410[2]. Pay for the middle half of workers ran from $45,380 to $82,110[2]. California had the 7th highest median pay for the job among the 48 states and DC with a published median[5].

Inside the state, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median, at $70,150 a year[10]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 1,520 jobs and a median of $61,680[11]. The figures cover about 4,190 people with wage or salary jobs[4]. Self-employed investigators are left out, and so are bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for private investigators in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$61,250[1]$51,220[3]
Median per hour$29.45[1]$24.62[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$42,600[2]$36,740[13]
Top 10% earn more than$103,410[2]$97,630[13]
Jobs4,190[4]35,580[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for private investigators, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$61,6801,520
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$70,150430
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$59,490420
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$51,130350
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$48,650280
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$64,060190
Fresno, CA$43,59080
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$58,17080

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for private investigators in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$76,480610
Arizona$61,030790

Median pay for private investigators in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for private investigators are projected to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private investigator make in California?
The median was $61,250 a year in May 2025, and the average was $67,040[1][7].
How much does a private investigator make an hour in California?
The median was $29.45 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $20.48 an hour and the 90th percentile was $49.71[17][2].
Which city in California pays private investigators the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median among the metro areas with a published figure, at $70,150 a year[10].
Is California a good state for private investigators?
California had the 7th highest median annual wage for the job out of 48 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $10,030 higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a private investigator in California?
Across the US, the typical entry path is a high school diploma or equivalent, less than 5 years of related work experience, and moderate-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in California was $61,250 per year and $29.45 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Private Detectives and Investigators in California: 10th percentile $42,600, 25th percentile $45,380, 75th percentile $82,110, 90th percentile $103,410. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in the US as a whole was $51,220 per year and $24.62 per hour, with about 35,580 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,190 people worked as Private Detectives and Investigators in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 7th highest median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators out of the 48 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in California ($61,250) was $10,030 (19.6%) higher than the US median ($51,220). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in California was $67,040 per year and $32.23 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in California was $3,010 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Private Detectives and Investigators, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $70,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Private Detectives and Investigators in the US: 10th percentile $36,740, 25th percentile $40,700, 75th percentile $73,990, 90th percentile $97,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $76,480; Arizona $61,030. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Private Detectives and Investigators is projected to grow 5.5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,200 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Private Detectives and Investigators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Private Detectives and Investigators in California: 10th percentile $20.48, 25th percentile $21.82, 75th percentile $39.47, 90th percentile $49.71. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.