Private Detectives and Investigators Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $45,990. BLS estimates approximately 210 people work in this occupation in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 10.2% 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 | $32,810 | $15.77 |
| 25th percentile | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Median (50th) | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| 75th percentile | $53,440 | $25.69 |
| 90th percentile | $69,670 | $33.50 |
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 8.5% — Reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 35.3% — 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
- 0.269
- Location quotient
- 1.18
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC’s regional price level is below the national average (index 97.941, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $46,957 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.