Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Gainesville, FL
Private Detectives and Investigators in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn a median of $51,580 a year ($24.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,610 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $51,220. Pay here is 2% higher than the Florida statewide median of $50,640. There are 0.28 private detectives and investigators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for private detectives and investigators in Gainesville, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| 25th percentile | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| Median | $51,580 | $24.80 |
| 75th percentile | $62,360 | $29.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,610 | $35.39 |
| Average (mean) | $54,140 | $26.03 |
Half of private detectives and investigators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,298.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,149.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,983.85 |
| Weekly | $991.92 |
| Hourly | $24.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,580 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $59,350 | 120 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $56,510 | 120 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $56,370 | 40 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $54,720 | 1,030 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $51,950 | 80 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $51,390 | 660 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $49,870 | 90 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $48,630 | 40 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $48,430 | 60 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $48,060 | 310 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,360 | 450 |
| Ocala, FL | $46,470 | 40 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $45,440 | 60 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $39,690 | 130 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $39,260 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for private detectives and investigators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $76,480 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 |
| Vermont | $67,910 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 |
| Washington | $64,080 |
| California | $61,250 |
| Arizona | $61,030 |
| Illinois | $60,210 |
| New York | $59,140 |
See Private Detectives and Investigators pay in every state or the Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Gainesville, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $33,950 | $16.32 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $52,620 | $25.30 |
| School Bus Monitor | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| Firefighter | $49,380 | $23.74 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $77,190 | $37.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $96,270 | $46.28 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $66,350 | $31.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $54,660 | $26.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $45,090 | $21.68 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Gainesville, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private detectives and investigators make in Gainesville, FL?
The median salary for private detectives and investigators in the Gainesville, FL metro area is $51,580 a year, or $24.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid private detectives and investigators make in Gainesville, FL?
The top 10% of private detectives and investigators in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn at least $73,610 a year. The top 25% earn $62,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for private detectives and investigators in Gainesville, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,400 a year, and a quarter of private detectives and investigators earn $37,290 or less.
How many private detectives and investigators work in Gainesville, FL?
About 40 private detectives and investigators are employed in the Gainesville, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.