Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $46,380. BLS estimates approximately 40 people work in this occupation in Fort Smith, AR-OK. Fort Smith, AR-OK is 9.4% below the national median ($51,220).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| 25th percentile | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Median (50th) | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| 75th percentile | $54,330 | $26.12 |
| 90th percentile | $54,330 | $26.12 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 5.3% — Reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 25.5% — Low reliability
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 0.368
- Location quotient
- 1.61
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fort Smith, AR-OK’s regional price level is below the national average (index 85.888, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $54,001 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.