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Private investigator salary in North Carolina

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

$52,890median pay per year in North Carolina, or $25.43 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,600lowest 10% earn less
  2. $41,00025th percentile
  3. $52,890median
  4. $74,90075th percentile
  5. $98,560top 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 North Carolina was $52,890 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $1,670 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
1,710[4]
Rank by median pay
19 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
+3.3%[6]

How much do private investigators make in North Carolina?

Half of the private investigators in North Carolina earned more than $52,890 a year[1], and half earned less. That works out to $25.43 an hour[1]. The average was higher, at $61,350 a year[7]. The US median was $51,220[3], so North Carolina sat $1,670 above it[6]. Across all jobs in the state, the median was $47,970[8], and private investigators earned $4,920 more than that[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,600 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $98,560[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $41,000 and $74,900[2]. In terms of rank, the state had the 19th highest median among the 48 states and DC with a published figure[5].

Pay differs by place. Of the metro areas with a published median, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had the highest, at $73,430 a year[10]. It also had about 860 jobs[11]. Raleigh-Cary had a median of $45,390[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. OEWS leaves out the self-employed and business owners, and it does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

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

NCUS
Median per year$52,890[1]$51,220[3]
Median per hour$25.43[1]$24.62[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$36,600[2]$36,740[13]
Top 10% earn more than$98,560[2]$97,630[13]
Jobs1,710[4]35,580[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for private investigators, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[11]$73,430860
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$45,990210
Raleigh-Cary, NC$45,390180
Winston-Salem, NC$42,66080
Greensboro-High Point, NC$41,63070
Asheville, NC$53,90050
Fayetteville, NC$38,50050
Greenville, NC$51,01050

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Virginia[14]$56,1601,280
South Carolina$51,530620
Tennessee$49,360940
Georgia$45,0601,460

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 North Carolina?
The median was $52,890 a year in May 2025, and the average was $61,350[1][7].
How much does a private investigator make an hour in North Carolina?
The median was $25.43 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $17.60 an hour and the 90th percentile was $47.38[17].
Which city in North Carolina pays private investigators the most?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $73,430 a year[10].
Is North Carolina a good state for private investigators?
North Carolina had the 19th highest median annual wage out of the 48 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $1,670 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a private investigator in North Carolina?
Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of related work experience[16]. This is a US figure, not one for North Carolina.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in North Carolina was $52,890 per year and $25.43 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $36,600, 25th percentile $41,000, 75th percentile $74,900, 90th percentile $98,560. 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 1,710 people worked as Private Detectives and Investigators in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 19th 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 North Carolina ($52,890) was $1,670 (3.3%) 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 North Carolina was $61,350 per year and $29.49 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in North Carolina was $4,920 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 10 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Private Detectives and Investigators, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC had the highest median annual wage, $73,430. 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 North Carolina (highest first): Virginia $56,160; South Carolina $51,530; Tennessee $49,360; Georgia $45,060. 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $17.60, 25th percentile $19.71, 75th percentile $36.01, 90th percentile $47.38. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. 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.