National Salary Info » Private Detectives and Investigators

Highest Paying Industries for Private Detectives and Investigators

The top 86 highest paying industries for private detectives and investigators (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $78,770, other fabricated metal product manufacturing is the highest paying industry for private detectives and investigators. It is followed by fabricated metal product manufacturing industry (average annual salary $78,770). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of private detectives and investigators in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 86 Highest Paying Industries for Private Detectives and Investigators

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$78,770	$61,750	50
2	Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$78,770	$61,750	50
3	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$76,810	$51,730	580
4	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$76,640	$51,770	580
5	Manufacturing	$75,990	$50,780	730
6	Utilities	$75,460	$41,340	n/a
7	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$75,400	$51,140	40
8	Scientific Research and Development Services	$75,400	$51,140	40
9	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$72,030	$48,570	50
10	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$70,990	$43,580	70
11	Wholesale Trade	$68,920	$46,560	40
12	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$68,500	$45,050	30
13	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	$66,930	$51,320	130
14	Elementary and Secondary Schools	$66,930	$51,320	130
15	Educational Services - Local government owned	$66,460	$49,190	140
16	Educational Services	$65,100	$42,120	210
17	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$64,000	$32,440	130
18	Educational Services - Privately owned	$63,000	$37,070	60
19	Engineering Services	$62,250	$32,850	70
20	Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers	$62,180	$37,310	270
21	Couriers and Express Delivery Services	$61,700	$28,620	880
22	Couriers and Messengers	$61,700	$28,620	880
23	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$61,450	$28,040	80
24	Transportation and Warehousing	$61,250	$28,900	1,070
25	Scheduled Air Transportation	$61,000	$40,070	90
26	Air Transportation	$61,000	$40,070	90
27	Insurance Carriers	$58,950	$34,320	400
28	Telecommunications	$58,520	$34,590	190
29	Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$57,670	$32,670	100
30	Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers	$56,920	$24,450	70
31	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$56,260	$36,240	40
32	Depository Credit Intermediation	$55,590	$31,510	700
33	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$55,490	$36,630	50
34	Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$54,020	$30,970	150
35	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$53,470	$27,270	60
36	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$52,720	$23,970	90
37	Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services	$52,430	$38,840	70
38	Finance and Insurance	$52,090	$31,450	1,980
39	Insurance Carriers and Related Activities	$51,800	$31,670	840
40	Information	$51,010	$32,290	340
41	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities	$50,970	$31,030	1,090
42	Health Care and Social Assistance	$50,330	$36,370	n/a
43	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$49,300	$32,740	1,300
44	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$49,280	$29,330	1,740
45	Facilities Support Services	$47,440	$34,910	n/a
46	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$46,450	$31,570	1,050
47	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$46,250	$26,150	4,710
48	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$46,120	$24,960	2,330
49	Clothing Stores	$45,940	$32,130	70
50	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$45,740	$32,900	2,890
51	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$45,470	$27,280	1,320
52	Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores	$45,340	$29,620	80
53	Warehousing and Storage	$45,310	$30,720	40
54	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$45,150	$34,300	2,440
55	Federal, State, and Local Government	$45,150	$34,300	2,440
56	Legal Services	$44,590	$25,530	1,090
57	Traveler Accommodation	$43,870	$36,880	60
58	Accommodation	$43,870	$36,880	60
59	Accommodation and Food Services	$43,870	$36,880	60
60	Activities Related to Credit Intermediation	$43,800	$29,940	240
61	Casino Hotels	$43,640	$37,260	60
62	Investigation and Security Services	$43,410	$28,190	10,420
63	Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services	$43,400	$28,190	10,420
64	Administrative and Support Services	$42,850	$26,970	11,370
65	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$42,850	$26,970	11,380
66	Other General Merchandise Stores	$40,970	$27,930	n/a
67	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$40,300	$34,310	1,130
68	Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities	$39,620	$31,250	440
69	Other Insurance Related Activities	$39,210	$31,230	440
70	Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries	$39,040	$18,170	n/a
71	Other Information Services	$36,980	$28,700	70
72	Gambling Industries	$36,810	$17,760	n/a
73	Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses	$35,450	$26,700	40
74	Nonstore Retailers	$35,450	$26,700	40
75	Pharmacies and Drug Stores	$34,760	$28,610	110
76	Health and Personal Care Stores	$34,760	$28,610	110
77	Retail Trade	$32,630	$22,350	2,000
78	Grocery Stores	$32,270	$25,540	160
79	Food and Beverage Stores	$32,270	$25,540	160
80	General Merchandise Stores	$30,920	$21,790	n/a
81	Home Furnishings Stores	$30,840	$23,760	50
82	Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores	$30,560	$23,980	60
83	Business Support Services	$29,590	$18,360	500
84	Telephone Call Centers	$29,290	$21,830	n/a
85	Department Stores	$28,750	$21,180	n/a
86	Employment Services	$26,310	$18,110	130