Best states for a special investigator

Q: What is the best state for special investigators?

The best state to be a special investigator is Maryland based on special investigator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for special investigators?

The highest paying state for special investigators is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for special investigators?

The worst state for special investigators is South Carolina, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for special investigators in the United States. Special investigator positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for special investigators.In order to help you decide which state is the best for special investigators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for special investigator jobs.

Maryland is the best state for jobs for special investigators, and South Carolina is the worst. The most common pay in Maryland is $84,065, while the median pay in South Carolina is $29,965.We found that the South is best for special investigators, and the Northeast is the worst. Lompoc, CA is the best city in the country for special investigator jobs, where as Maryland is the best state in the country.

10 best states for special investigators in 2025

1. Maryland
Total special investigator jobs: 654
Average annual salary: $84,065
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000
Location Quotient:
1.23
Special investigator jobs in Maryland
2. California
Total special investigator jobs: 2,623
Average annual salary: $83,851
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Special investigator jobs in California
3. District of Columbia
Total special investigator jobs: 213
Average annual salary: $71,898
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Special investigator jobs in District of Columbia
4. Oregon
Total special investigator jobs: 429
Average annual salary: $66,660
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.23
Special investigator jobs in Oregon
5. New York
Total special investigator jobs: 1,220
Average annual salary: $70,558
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Special investigator jobs in New York
6. Connecticut
Total special investigator jobs: 362
Average annual salary: $64,357
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
1.3
Special investigator jobs in Connecticut
7. Nevada
Total special investigator jobs: 186
Average annual salary: $66,220
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Special investigator jobs in Nevada
8. Alaska
Total special investigator jobs: 90
Average annual salary: $64,191
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Special investigator jobs in Alaska
9. Delaware
Total special investigator jobs: 129
Average annual salary: $62,586
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Special investigator jobs in Delaware
10. New Jersey
Total special investigator jobs: 698
Average annual salary: $65,904
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Special investigator jobs in New Jersey

Special investigator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a special investigator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a special investigator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Maryland	$84,065	$50,000	6,052,177	654
2	California	$83,851	$48,000	39,536,653	2,623
3	District of Columbia	$71,898	$43,000	693,972	213
4	Oregon	$66,660	$40,000	4,142,776	429
5	New York	$70,558	$42,000	19,849,399	1,220
6	Connecticut	$64,357	$39,000	3,588,184	362
7	Nevada	$66,220	$38,000	2,998,039	186
8	Alaska	$64,191	$51,000	739,795	90
9	Delaware	$62,586	$37,000	961,939	129
10	New Jersey	$65,904	$39,000	9,005,644	698
11	Washington	$65,809	$40,000	7,405,743	621
12	Montana	$56,537	$36,000	1,050,493	148
13	Rhode Island	$63,522	$39,000	1,059,639	98
14	New Hampshire	$60,038	$37,000	1,342,795	160
15	Hawaii	$60,303	$49,000	1,427,538	110
16	Massachusetts	$68,765	$42,000	6,859,819	512
17	Pennsylvania	$54,880	$33,000	12,805,537	1,159
18	Michigan	$53,658	$33,000	9,962,311	769
19	Ohio	$49,446	$30,000	11,658,609	1,154
20	Vermont	$52,214	$32,000	623,657	79
21	Virginia	$58,772	$34,000	8,470,020	755
22	New Mexico	$49,352	$30,000	2,088,070	203
23	West Virginia	$55,629	$33,000	1,815,857	84
24	Maine	$56,821	$36,000	1,335,907	86
25	Arizona	$49,621	$29,000	7,016,270	648
26	Utah	$50,998	$30,000	3,101,833	264
27	Nebraska	$39,689	$26,000	1,920,076	299
28	Colorado	$47,099	$30,000	5,607,154	516
29	Wisconsin	$46,717	$30,000	5,795,483	458
30	Illinois	$46,267	$30,000	12,802,023	1,033
31	North Dakota	$47,220	$33,000	755,393	67
32	South Dakota	$50,084	$34,000	869,666	57
33	Texas	$49,412	$30,000	28,304,596	1,137
34	Missouri	$39,587	$25,000	6,113,532	719
35	Idaho	$43,220	$26,000	1,716,943	123
36	Oklahoma	$37,963	$24,000	3,930,864	308
37	Wyoming	$36,941	$23,000	579,315	73
38	Kentucky	$35,900	$22,000	4,454,189	602
39	Minnesota	$40,897	$28,000	5,576,606	477
40	Kansas	$41,752	$27,000	2,913,123	162
41	Louisiana	$38,959	$23,000	4,684,333	219
42	Iowa	$40,003	$26,000	3,145,711	195
43	Mississippi	$36,744	$22,000	2,984,100	156
44	Alabama	$37,023	$23,000	4,874,747	270
45	Tennessee	$36,739	$23,000	6,715,984	344
46	Arkansas	$34,909	$22,000	3,004,279	227
47	Georgia	$35,569	$22,000	10,429,379	737
48	North Carolina	$37,916	$22,000	10,273,419	479
49	Florida	$33,709	$20,000	20,984,400	1,170
50	Indiana	$33,736	$21,000	6,666,818	426
51	South Carolina	$29,965	$18,000	5,024,369	302

Highest paying states for special investigators

Rank	State	Avg. Special Investigator Salary
1	Maryland	$84,065
2	California	$83,851
3	District of Columbia	$71,898
4	Oregon	$66,660
5	New York	$70,558
6	Connecticut	$64,357
7	Nevada	$66,220
8	Alaska	$64,191
9	Delaware	$62,586
10	New Jersey	$65,904
11	Washington	$65,809
12	Montana	$56,537
13	Rhode Island	$63,522
14	New Hampshire	$60,038
15	Hawaii	$60,303
16	Massachusetts	$68,765
17	Pennsylvania	$54,880
18	Michigan	$53,658
19	Ohio	$49,446
20	Vermont	$52,214
21	Virginia	$58,772
22	New Mexico	$49,352
23	West Virginia	$55,629
24	Maine	$56,821
25	Arizona	$49,621
26	Utah	$50,998
27	Nebraska	$39,689
28	Colorado	$47,099
29	Wisconsin	$46,717
30	Illinois	$46,267
31	North Dakota	$47,220
32	South Dakota	$50,084
33	Texas	$49,412
34	Missouri	$39,587
35	Idaho	$43,220
36	Oklahoma	$37,963
37	Wyoming	$36,941
38	Kentucky	$35,900
39	Minnesota	$40,897
40	Kansas	$41,752
41	Louisiana	$38,959
42	Iowa	$40,003
43	Mississippi	$36,744
44	Alabama	$37,023
45	Tennessee	$36,739
46	Arkansas	$34,909
47	Georgia	$35,569
48	North Carolina	$37,916
49	Florida	$33,709
50	Indiana	$33,736
51	South Carolina	$29,965

Best states for a special investigator

10 best states for special investigators in 2025

1. Maryland

2. California

3. District of Columbia

4. Oregon

5. New York

6. Connecticut

7. Nevada

8. Alaska

9. Delaware

10. New Jersey

Special investigator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a special investigator

Detailed list of the best states for a special investigator

Highest paying states for special investigators

Special investigator best states FAQs

What is the best state for special investigators?

What is the highest paying state for special investigators?

What is the worst state for special investigators?

Search for special investigator jobs

Total special investigator jobs:	654
Average annual salary:	$84,065
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$50,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$140,000
Location Quotient:	1.23