Wages vary greatly depending on the employer, the specialty, and the area of the country where investigators work. Wages tend to be much higher, for example, for loss prevention investigators in large corporations.
Benefits also vary. Most full-time salaried private detectives and investigators receive benefits. These usually include vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. In addition, most corporate investigators receive profit-sharing plans.
Private detectives and investigators (SOC 33-9021)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $21.42 | $31.74 | $41.97 |
| Yearly | $44,536 | $66,028 | $87,277 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $17.10 | $18.21 | $23.45 |
| Yearly | $35,565 | $37,873 | $48,776 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $26.13 | $37.51 | $37.51 |
| Yearly | $54,351 | $78,018 | $78,018 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $21.43 | $31.80 | $43.10 |
| Yearly | $44,559 | $66,128 | $89,664 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $21.42 | $29.88 | $42.18 |
| Yearly | $44,549 | $62,147 | $87,745 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $18.48 | $22.81 | $30.99 |
| Yearly | $38,429 | $47,430 | $64,462 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $29.88 | $38.71 | $40.70 |
| Yearly | $62,147 | $80,522 | $84,656 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $21.05 | $39.91 | $47.75 |
| Yearly | $43,790 | $83,011 | $99,305 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $19.06 | $33.74 | $40.93 |
| Yearly | $39,660 | $70,186 | $85,137 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $23.85 | $35.24 | $43.45 |
| Yearly | $49,607 | $73,314 | $90,367 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $18.29 | $19.99 | $29.34 |
| Yearly | $38,046 | $41,599 | $61,030 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $18.93 | $24.02 | $27.60 |
| Yearly | $39,380 | $49,961 | $57,422 | |
| St. Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $18.00 | $25.25 | $31.06 |
| Yearly | $37,445 | $52,523 | $64,618 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $21.05 | $29.86 | $42.18 |
| Yearly | $43,790 | $62,103 | $87,745 | |
| United States | Hourly | $19.29 | $23.82 | $35.98 |
| Yearly | $40,130 | $49,540 | $74,830 | |