Private Detectives and Investigators in Florida

Get the information you need to know about working as a Private Detective or Investigator.

You’re in luck! Jobs for Private Detectives and Investigators in Florida are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.

• Projected employment for Private Detectives and Investigators in Florida is growing faster than average.

• Private Detectives and Investigators in Florida earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

How Many Private Detectives and Investigators Work in Florida?

There were approximately 2,860 workers employed as Private Detectives and Investigators in this state in 2018.

There were 3,840 Private Detectives and Investigators employed in this state in 2017.

That’s a decline of 980 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 320 Private Detectives and Investigators working in it, which means Florida has more Private Detectives and Investigators than average.

Job Projections for Florida

Jobs for Private Detectives and Investigators in this state are growing at a rate of 15.0% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 10.6%.

Florida Annual Job Openings

The BLS is projecting 600 annual Private Detectives and Investigators job openings in Florida, and 5,980 total jobs in the year 2026.

Nationwide, the prediction is 4,500 annual jobs and 45,800 total jobs in 2026.

What do Private Detectives and Investigators Make in Florida?

In 2018 wages for Private Detectives and Investigators ranged from $26,720 to $68,390 with $36,570 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $12.85 to $32.88. The median hourly rate was $17.58.

Workers in this field were paid a median of $18.58 an hour in 2017.

The hourly rate declined by $1.00.

The median salary in Florida is higher than the nationwide median salary.

Top Florida Metros for Private Detectives and Investigators

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Private Detectives and Investigators.

Metro	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Jacksonville, FL	230	$48,030
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	180	$50,340

Top States for Private Detectives and Investigators Employment

View the list below to see where most Private Detectives and Investigators work.

State	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
California	3,870	$65,420
Pennsylvania	3,100	$42,750
Florida	2,860	$36,570
New York	1,720	$59,780
Texas	1,570	$46,720
Ohio	1,280	$38,080
Georgia	1,080	$47,500
Illinois	860	$55,580
New Jersey	740	$62,060
Tennessee	580	$0
North Carolina	570	$51,370
Massachusetts	550	$54,340
Michigan	530	$50,620
Louisiana	520	$44,490
Minnesota	490	$0
Nevada	460	$69,300
Arizona	380	$52,060
Oregon	350	$52,260
Colorado	340	$50,740
Oklahoma	300	$37,220

Below are the states where Private Detectives and Investigators get paid the most:

State	Annual Median Salary
Nevada	$69,300
District of Columbia	$68,940
Alaska	$67,240
California	$65,420
Virginia	$65,170
New Jersey	$62,060
New York	$59,780
Idaho	$57,310
Connecticut	$57,300
Maryland	$56,580

What Major Will Prepare You For a Private Detective or Investigator Career?

• Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
• Criminal Justice & Corrections
• Criminal Justice & Police Science
• Protective Services Operations

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies.