Private detective demographics and statistics in the US
Private detective demographics research summary. Zippia estimates private detective demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our private detective estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about private detectives after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 4,336 private detectives currently employed in the United States.
- 22.8% of all private detectives are women, while 77.2% are men.
- The average private detective age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of private detectives is White (57.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.9%), Black or African American (14.4%) and Unknown (5.5%).
- In 2022, women earned 86% of what men earned.
- 8% of all private detectives are LGBT.
- Private detectives are 77% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Private detective demographics by:
Private detective gender statistics
22.8% of private detectives are women and 77.2% of private detectives are men.
- Male, 77.2%
- Female, 22.8%
Private detective gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 77.2% |
| Female | 22.8% |
Private detective gender pay gap
Women earn 86¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$47,291
Female income
$40,737
Private detective gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in private detective positions over time. Currently, 22.8% of private detectives are female.
Private detective gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 82.42% | 17.58% |
| 2011 | 80.24% | 19.76% |
| 2012 | 75.85% | 24.15% |
| 2013 | 80.10% | 19.90% |
| 2014 | 78.26% | 21.74% |
| 2015 | 79.11% | 20.89% |
| 2016 | 77.32% | 22.68% |
| 2017 | 79.34% | 20.66% |
| 2018 | 79.31% | 20.69% |
| 2019 | 76.77% | 23.23% |
| 2020 | 77.01% | 22.99% |
| 2021 | 77.16% | 22.84% |
Private detective related jobs gender ratio
We compared private detectives with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, rescue boat operator and bodyguard have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Playground Monitor | 18% | 82% |
| School Crossing Guard | 21% | 79% |
| Crossing Guard | 23% | 77% |
| Private Detective | 77% | 23% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Private detective demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among private detectives is White, which makes up 57.0% of all private detectives. Comparatively, 17.9% of private detectives are Hispanic or Latino and 14.4% of private detectives are Black or African American.
- White, 57.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.9%
- Black or African American, 14.4%
- Unknown, 5.5%
- Asian, 4.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Private detective race
| Private detective race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 57.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.9% |
| Black or African American | 14.4% |
| Unknown | 5.5% |
| Asian | 4.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Private detective race and ethnicity over time
See how private detective racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Private detective race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.42% | 10.52% | 3.75% | 15.60% |
| 2011 | 63.50% | 13.31% | 3.31% | 17.90% |
| 2012 | 64.42% | 12.65% | 4.11% | 15.94% |
| 2013 | 62.68% | 14.06% | 2.84% | 16.97% |
| 2014 | 65.45% | 13.01% | 2.80% | 15.38% |
| 2015 | 63.07% | 13.35% | 4.10% | 17.05% |
| 2016 | 63.23% | 12.17% | 4.19% | 17.52% |
| 2017 | 63.15% | 10.95% | 5.21% | 16.52% |
| 2018 | 61.60% | 14.13% | 4.72% | 16.42% |
| 2019 | 61.27% | 13.67% | 5.46% | 17.76% |
| 2020 | 63.48% | 12.23% | 3.62% | 16.67% |
| 2021 | 57.03% | 14.45% | 4.79% | 17.93% |
Private detective wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown private detectives have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american private detectives have the lowest average salary at $44,747.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $48,237 |
| White | $48,086 |
| Black or African American | $44,747 |
| Asian | $47,624 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $47,854 |
Average private detective age
See how the average age of private detectives varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Private detective age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 48 | 36.5 |
| White | 43 | 41 |
| Black or African American | 46 | 47 |
| Asian | 43.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 42 | 40 |
Private detective age breakdown
The average age of private detectives is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the private detective population.
Private detective age breakdown
| Private Detective Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 12% |
Private detective educational attainment
The most common degree for private detectives is bachelor's degree, with 49% of private detectives earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 22% and associate degree degree at 14%.
- Bachelor's, 49%
- Associate, 22%
- High School Diploma, 14%
- Master's, 4%
- Other Degrees, 11%
Private detectives by degree level
| Private detective degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 49% |
| Associate | 22% |
| High School Diploma | 14% |
| Master's | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
Private detective jobs you might like
Private detective wage gap by degree level
According to the data, private detectives with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $54,892 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, private detectives earn a median annual income of $46,719 compared to $39,612 for private detectives with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $54,892 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,944 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,719 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,612 |
Private detective employment statistics
Most private detectives work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where private detectives work
Below, you can see the size of companies where private detectives work.
Private detective jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 20% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 9% |
Private detective jobs by company type
Employees with the private detective job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most private detectives prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Private detective jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 10% |
| Private | 77% |
| Government | 5% |
Private detective jobs by industry
The most common industries for private detectives are professional, manufacturing and utilities.
Private detective industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 18% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Utilities | 10% |
| Hospitality | 8% |
| Education | 8% |
| Media | 5% |
| Non Profits | 5% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Insurance | 5% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Automotive | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Fortune 500 | 2% |
Private detective turnover and employment statistics
Private detective unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for private detectives between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Private detective unemployment rate by year
| Year | Private detective unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.58% |
| 2011 | 7.05% |
| 2012 | 4.89% |
| 2013 | 5.47% |
| 2014 | 4.38% |
| 2015 | 3.03% |
| 2016 | 1.98% |
| 2017 | 2.44% |
| 2018 | 2.70% |
| 2019 | 2.51% |
| 2020 | 4.40% |
| 2021 | 3.23% |
Average private detective tenure
The average private detective stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 323 private detectives resumes in Zippia's database.
Private detective tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 12% |
| 1-2 years | 22% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 25% |
Private detective LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of private detectives that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Site Crossing Guard | 3.84% | 50,239 |
| Parking Security Attendant | 6.29% | 124,959 |
| Tipstaff | 7.17% | 137 |
| Ski Patrol | 7.20% | 20,950 |
| Private Detective | 8.27% | - |
| Airport Security Screener | 15.51% | 46,117 |
Similar private detective jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Site Crossing Guard | 3.84% | 50,239 |
| Parking Security Attendant | 6.29% | 124,959 |
| Tipstaff | 7.17% | 137 |
| Ski Patrol | 7.20% | 20,950 |
| Airport Security Screener | 15.51% | 46,117 |
Foreign languages spoken by private detectives
The most common foreign language among private detectives is Spanish at 46.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Arabic at 15.4% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 7.7%.
- Spanish, 46.2%
- Arabic, 15.4%
- Portuguese, 7.7%
- Turkish, 7.7%
- Braille, 7.7%
- Other, 15.3%
Private detective languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 46.2% |
| Arabic | 15.4% |
| Portuguese | 7.7% |
| Turkish | 7.7% |
| Braille | 7.7% |
| Other | 15.3% |
