Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
In Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (FL), the median pay for private detectives and investigators is $26.31 an hour ($54,720 a year). About 1,030 people work in this job there.
That is 7% higher than the U.S. median ($51,220). It is 8% higher than the Florida median ($50,640).
Pay range for private detectives and investigators in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (FL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.05 | $35,470 |
| 25% of workers | $18.52 | $38,520 |
| Half of workers (median) | $26.31 | $54,720 |
| 75% of workers | $34.23 | $71,200 |
| 90% of workers | $49.05 | $102,030 |
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Florida metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $59,350 | 120 |
| Tallahassee | $56,510 | 120 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $56,370 | 40 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (this page) | $54,720 | 1,030 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $51,950 | 80 |
| Gainesville | $51,580 | 40 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $51,390 | 660 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $49,870 | 90 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $48,630 | 40 |
| Port St. Lucie | $48,430 | 60 |
| Jacksonville | $48,060 | 310 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $47,360 | 450 |
| Ocala | $46,470 | 40 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $45,440 | 60 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $39,690 | 130 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $39,260 | 60 |
Florida unemployment rate: 4.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for private detectives and investigators
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +5.5% over ten years, faster than average · about 3,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (FL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Lawyers | $160,320 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $62,090 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $79,840 |
| Compliance Officers | $79,770 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $127,570 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $99,080 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $37,230 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $60,320 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.