Private investigator demographics and statistics in the US
Private investigator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates private investigator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our private investigator 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 investigators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 4,941 private investigators currently employed in the United States.
- 26.9% of all private investigators are women, while 73.1% are men.
- The average private investigator age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of private investigators is White (57.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.9%), Black or African American (13.2%) and Unknown (5.6%).
- In 2022, women earned 87% of what men earned.
- 8% of all private investigators are LGBT.
- Private investigators are 73% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Private investigator demographics by:
Private investigator gender statistics
26.9% of private investigators are women and 73.1% of private investigators are men.
- Male, 73.1%
- Female, 26.9%
Private investigator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 73.1% |
| Female | 26.9% |
Private investigator gender pay gap
Women earn 87¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$53,589
Female income
$46,419
Private investigator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in private investigator positions over time. Currently, 26.9% of private investigators are female.
Private investigator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 79.05% | 20.95% |
| 2011 | 76.57% | 23.43% |
| 2012 | 71.65% | 28.35% |
| 2013 | 76.41% | 23.59% |
| 2014 | 74.33% | 25.67% |
| 2015 | 75.30% | 24.70% |
| 2016 | 73.28% | 26.72% |
| 2017 | 75.56% | 24.44% |
| 2018 | 75.52% | 24.48% |
| 2019 | 72.68% | 27.32% |
| 2020 | 72.94% | 27.06% |
| 2021 | 73.11% | 26.89% |
Private investigator related jobs gender ratio
We compared private investigators 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 Investigator | 73% | 27% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Private investigator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among private investigators is White, which makes up 57.5% of all private investigators. Comparatively, 18.9% of private investigators are Hispanic or Latino and 13.2% of private investigators are Black or African American.
- White, 57.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.9%
- Black or African American, 13.2%
- Unknown, 5.6%
- Asian, 4.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
Private investigator race
| Private investigator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 57.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.9% |
| Black or African American | 13.2% |
| Unknown | 5.6% |
| Asian | 4.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.2% |
Private investigator race and ethnicity over time
See how private investigator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Private investigator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.87% | 9.24% | 3.60% | 16.57% |
| 2011 | 63.95% | 12.03% | 3.16% | 18.87% |
| 2012 | 64.87% | 11.37% | 3.96% | 16.91% |
| 2013 | 63.13% | 12.78% | 2.69% | 17.94% |
| 2014 | 65.90% | 11.72% | 2.66% | 16.35% |
| 2015 | 63.52% | 12.07% | 3.96% | 18.02% |
| 2016 | 63.68% | 10.89% | 4.04% | 18.49% |
| 2017 | 63.60% | 9.67% | 5.06% | 17.49% |
| 2018 | 62.05% | 12.85% | 4.57% | 17.39% |
| 2019 | 61.72% | 12.39% | 5.32% | 18.73% |
| 2020 | 63.93% | 10.95% | 3.48% | 17.65% |
| 2021 | 57.48% | 13.17% | 4.64% | 18.90% |
Private investigator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown private investigators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american private investigators have the lowest average salary at $50,811.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $54,620 |
| White | $54,456 |
| Black or African American | $50,811 |
| Asian | $53,952 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $54,203 |
Average private investigator age
See how the average age of private investigators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Private investigator 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 investigator age breakdown
The average age of private investigators is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the private investigator population.
Private investigator age breakdown
| Private Investigator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 12% |
Private investigator educational attainment
The most common degree for private investigators is bachelor's degree, with 54% of private investigators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 25% and associate degree degree at 9%.
- Bachelor's, 54%
- Associate, 25%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Master's, 6%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Private investigators by degree level
| Private investigator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 54% |
| Associate | 25% |
| High School Diploma | 9% |
| Master's | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Private investigator jobs you might like
Private investigator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, private investigators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $61,858 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, private investigators earn a median annual income of $52,965 compared to $45,185 for private investigators with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $61,858 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,251 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $52,965 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $45,185 |
Private investigator employment statistics
Most private investigators work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where private investigators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where private investigators work.
Private investigator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 22% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 35% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 17% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Private investigator jobs by company type
Employees with the private investigator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most private investigators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Private investigator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 15% |
| Private | 73% |
| Government | 10% |
Private investigator jobs by industry
The most common industries for private investigators are professional, utilities and technology.
Private investigator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 21% |
| Utilities | 12% |
| Technology | 9% |
| Government | 8% |
| Finance | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Insurance | 5% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Private investigator turnover and employment statistics
Private investigator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for private investigators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Private investigator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Private investigator 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 investigator tenure
The average private investigator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 5,812 private investigators resumes in Zippia's database.
Private investigator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 18% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 8% |
| 11+ years | 15% |
Private investigator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of private investigators 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Crossing Guard | 3.84% | 17,296 |
| Employment Security Officer | 6.29% | 109,419 |
| Loss Prevention Associate | 7.17% | 82,313 |
| Certified Lifeguard | 7.20% | 36,332 |
| Private Investigator | 8.27% | - |
| Flight Security Specialist | 15.51% | 71,080 |
Similar private investigator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Crossing Guard | 3.84% | 17,296 |
| Employment Security Officer | 6.29% | 109,419 |
| Loss Prevention Associate | 7.17% | 82,313 |
| Certified Lifeguard | 7.20% | 36,332 |
| Flight Security Specialist | 15.51% | 71,080 |
Foreign languages spoken by private investigators
The most common foreign language among private investigators is Spanish at 69.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.0% and Arabic is the third-most popular at 4.4%.
- Spanish, 69.4%
- French, 6.0%
- Arabic, 4.4%
- Portuguese, 2.2%
- Turkish, 2.2%
- Other, 15.8%
Private investigator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 69.4% |
| French | 6.0% |
| Arabic | 4.4% |
| Portuguese | 2.2% |
| Turkish | 2.2% |
| Other | 15.8% |
