{"data_version":"1.0","generated_from":"2026-10-08","license":"Free to reuse with attribution: cite \"EducationGuide.com\" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0). O*NET data: CC BY 4.0, O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA).","url":"https://educationguide.com/careers/private-detectives-and-investigators","ids":{"soc_2018":"33-9021","slug":"private-detectives-and-investigators"},"soc":"33-9021","slug":"private-detectives-and-investigators","title":"Private Detectives and Investigators","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.","wage":{"median":51220,"p10":36740,"p25":40700,"p75":73990,"p90":97630,"mean":60150,"jobs":35580,"year":"May 2025"},"states":{"AK":53440,"AL":46810,"AR":47750,"AZ":61030,"CA":61250,"CO":48730,"CT":75010,"DC":72720,"DE":55710,"FL":50640,"GA":45060,"HI":45750,"IA":41110,"ID":47910,"IL":60210,"IN":41830,"KS":45260,"KY":47650,"LA":41950,"MA":50240,"ME":43830,"MI":48650,"MN":57880,"MO":41600,"MS":39060,"MT":47430,"NC":52890,"ND":44310,"NE":51750,"NH":65370,"NJ":54710,"NM":41600,"NY":59140,"OH":47200,"OK":39680,"OR":76480,"PA":51200,"PR":42190,"RI":54620,"SC":51530,"SD":44840,"TN":49360,"TX":51810,"UT":57910,"VA":56160,"VT":67910,"WA":64080,"WI":41850,"WV":46410,"WY":54310},"metros":{"CA":[{"name":"Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim","wage":61680,"jobs":1520},{"name":"San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont","wage":70150,"jobs":430},{"name":"Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario","wage":59490,"jobs":420},{"name":"Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom","wage":51130,"jobs":350},{"name":"San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad","wage":48650,"jobs":280},{"name":"San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara","wage":64060,"jobs":190},{"name":"Fresno","wage":43590,"jobs":80},{"name":"Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura","wage":58170,"jobs":80}],"FL":[{"name":"Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach","wage":54720,"jobs":1030},{"name":"Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater","wage":51390,"jobs":660},{"name":"Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford","wage":47360,"jobs":450},{"name":"Jacksonville","wage":48060,"jobs":310},{"name":"Lakeland-Winter Haven","wage":39690,"jobs":130},{"name":"Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach","wage":59350,"jobs":120},{"name":"Tallahassee","wage":56510,"jobs":120},{"name":"Cape Coral-Fort Myers","wage":49870,"jobs":90}],"VA":[{"name":"Washington-Arlington-Alexandria","wage":62300,"jobs":790},{"name":"Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk","wage":45990,"jobs":210},{"name":"Richmond","wage":52430,"jobs":130}]},"outlook":{"jobs2025":39.5,"jobs2035":41.7,"growth":5.5,"openings_k":3.2,"entry":"High school diploma or equivalent","experience":"Less than 5 years","training":"Moderate-term on-the-job training"},"jobZone":3,"education":{"hs_or_less":0.251,"some_college_or_associate":0.327,"bachelors":0.377,"graduate":0.045},"interests":{"scores":{"R":2.39,"I":3.9,"A":1.42,"S":2.87,"E":4.07,"C":5.45},"code":"CEI"},"skills":["Active Listening","Speaking","Reading Comprehension","Critical Thinking","Writing"],"knowledge":["English Language","Customer and Personal Service","Law and Government","Computers and Electronics","Administrative"],"workStyles":["Integrity","Dependability","Attention to Detail","Self-Control","Perseverance"],"young":{"workers_n":1059,"baPlusShare":0.5799,"medianAll":54889,"medianBa":65914,"years":"2020-2024","ages":"25-34"},"fields":[{"fod1p":"5301","label":"Criminal Justice And Fire Protection","share":0.1785,"degrees":[{"slug":"criminal-justice","name":"Criminal Justice"},{"slug":"security-homeland-security","name":"Security / Homeland Security"}]},{"fod1p":"6203","label":"Business Management And Administration","share":0.0639,"degrees":[{"slug":"business-administration","name":"Business Administration"}]},{"fod1p":"6200","label":"General Business","share":0.0566,"degrees":[{"slug":"business","name":"Business"}]},{"fod1p":"5200","label":"Psychology","share":0.0486,"degrees":[{"slug":"psychology","name":"Psychology"}]},{"fod1p":"5503","label":"Criminology","share":0.0384,"degrees":[{"slug":"criminology","name":"Criminology"}]},{"fod1p":"5506","label":"Political Science And Government","share":0.0346,"degrees":[{"slug":"political-science","name":"Political Science"}]},{"fod1p":"3600","label":"Biology","share":0.0301,"degrees":[{"slug":"biology","name":"Biology"}]},{"fod1p":"6207","label":"Finance","share":0.0276,"degrees":[{"slug":"finance","name":"Finance"},{"slug":"insurance","name":"Insurance"}]},{"fod1p":"1901","label":"Communications","share":0.0265,"degrees":[{"slug":"communications","name":"Communications"},{"slug":"communication-journalism-and-related-programs-other","name":"Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other"}]},{"fod1p":"6402","label":"History","share":0.026,"degrees":[{"slug":"history","name":"History"}]}],"sources":{"wage":"BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 (U.S., states, metro areas)","outlook":"BLS Employment Projections 2025-35","onet":"O*NET 31.0: description, job zone, required education (worker survey), interests, skills, knowledge, work styles","young":"Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year microdata: employed ages 25-34 with at least a high school diploma; share with a bachelor's+, median earnings (not enrolled, earnings > 0), fields of bachelor's degree (EducationGuide calculation)"},"methodology":"https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#careers"}