The term private investigator and private detective are often used interchangeably. However, private investigators tend to work more with citizens and businesses in divorce, computer security and other cases, while private detectives deal more with government agencies and police departments. However, the qualifications and salaries are similar. Thus, there is some overlap in their duties. Both may be involved in missing person or child cases; or read public records and testify at hearings. Both usually earn annual salaries.Average Median Salary
- The average annual median salary for a private investigator is $41,760, based on 2008 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median salaries refer to those that are in the exact middle of lists, not the average or mean of all salaries combined. The middle half of all private investigators earn median salaries between $30,870 and $59,060 per year. The top 10 percent earn earn median salaries of more than $76,640 per year. The lowest 10 percent earn median salaries of $23,500 per year. Both private investigator and detective salaries are combined in Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Salary by Industry
- Private investigators' salaries can vary considerably by industry. For example, they earn their highest average salaries working in the management, scientific and technical consulting industry, with an annual average of $90,030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in the natural gas distribution industry earn the second-highest salaries at $83,080 per year. Additionally, private investigators working in the computer systems design industry earn salaries of $79,380 per year; and those in the architectural and engineering industry earn $77,780 annually.
Salary by State
- Private investigator salaries can also vary by state. For example, those in Virginia earn the highest average or mean salaries at $68,420 per year, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They earn their second-highest salaries in New Mexico at $64,730 per year. Additionally, private investigators can expect to earn annual salaries of $61,750 per year in New Jersey; $59,650 annually in Alaska; and $59,430 in Delaware.
Salary by Metropolitan Area
- Private investigators earn the highest average salaries in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California metropolitan area at $82,340 per year, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They earn their second-highest annual salaries in the Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, California area at $77,010 per year. These professionals can expect to earn salaries of $74,080 in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California area; $73,300 per year in the Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, California metropolitan area; and $72,050 in the San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, California area.
Read more: Private Investigator's Salary Range | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8137796_private-investigators-salary-range.html#ixzz1gjsPmmuA
