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Special investigator salary
Average special investigator salary
$50,623
Understanding Special Investigator Salaries
The role of a Special Investigator is crucial in various sectors, including insurance, law enforcement, and corporate settings. According to recent data, the average salary for this position is approximately $50,623 annually. However, this figure can fluctuate based on several factors.
For instance, location plays a significant role in determining salary. States like California and New York often offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for investigative services. Experience also impacts earnings; those with extensive backgrounds typically see increased salaries.
Additionally, industries such as finance and insurance tend to pay more for skilled investigators, reflecting the specialized nature of the work. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers make informed decisions about their career paths.
In conclusion, exploring salary information by state and industry will provide a clearer picture of potential earnings for Special Investigators. Zippia offers resources to help you find job opportunities and gain insights into salary trends.
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Where can a Special Investigator earn more?
Special investigator salary estimates from across the web
Average special investigator salary by state
The average special investigator salary in Maryland, California, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average special investigator salary states are Kentucky, Georgia, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for special investigators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $84,065 | $40.42 |
| 2 | California | $83,851 | $40.31 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $71,898 | $34.57 |
| 4 | Oregon | $66,660 | $32.05 |
| 5 | New York | $70,558 | $33.92 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $64,357 | $30.94 |
| 7 | Nevada | $66,220 | $31.84 |
| 8 | Alaska | $64,191 | $30.86 |
| 9 | Delaware | $62,586 | $30.09 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $65,904 | $31.68 |
| 11 | Washington | $65,809 | $31.64 |
| 12 | Montana | $56,537 | $27.18 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $63,522 | $30.54 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $60,038 | $28.86 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $60,303 | $28.99 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $68,765 | $33.06 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $54,880 | $26.38 |
| 18 | Michigan | $53,658 | $25.80 |
| 19 | Ohio | $49,446 | $23.77 |
| 20 | Vermont | $52,214 | $25.10 |
| 21 | Virginia | $58,772 | $28.26 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $49,352 | $23.73 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $55,629 | $26.74 |
| 24 | Maine | $56,821 | $27.32 |
| 25 | Arizona | $49,621 | $23.86 |
| 26 | Utah | $50,998 | $24.52 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $39,689 | $19.08 |
| 28 | Colorado | $47,099 | $22.64 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $46,717 | $22.46 |
| 30 | Illinois | $46,267 | $22.24 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $50,084 | $24.08 |
| 33 | Texas | $49,412 | $23.76 |
| 34 | Missouri | $39,587 | $19.03 |
| 35 | Idaho | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $37,963 | $18.25 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $36,941 | $17.76 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $40,897 | $19.66 |
| 40 | Kansas | $41,752 | $20.07 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $38,959 | $18.73 |
| 42 | Iowa | $40,003 | $19.23 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $36,744 | $17.67 |
| 44 | Alabama | $37,023 | $17.80 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $36,739 | $17.66 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $34,909 | $16.78 |
| 47 | Georgia | $35,569 | $17.10 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $37,916 | $18.23 |
| 49 | Florida | $33,709 | $16.21 |
| 50 | Indiana | $33,736 | $16.22 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $29,965 | $14.41 |
Highest paying cities for special investigators
The highest-paying cities for special investigators are Lompoc, CA, New York, NY, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lompoc, CA | $85,878 | $41.29 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $70,915 | $34.09 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $68,620 | $32.99 |
| 4 | Newington, CT | $64,296 | $30.91 |
| 5 | Newark, DE | $62,585 | $30.09 |
| 6 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,348 | $29.01 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,673 | $26.77 |
| 8 | Southfield, MI | $54,480 | $26.19 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $51,528 | $24.77 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $46,755 | $22.48 |
| 11 | Leavenworth, KS | $41,642 | $20.02 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,007 | $19.71 |
| 13 | Des Moines, IA | $39,743 | $19.11 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $39,723 | $19.10 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $36,245 | $17.43 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $34,027 | $16.36 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $33,277 | $16.00 |
Special investigator salary details
A special investigator's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a special investigator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $50,623 | $4,219 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying special investigator jobs
The highest paying types of special investigators are investigator, postal inspector, and special services agent.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshal | $36,029 | $3,002 | $17.32 | 242 |
| Child Support Officer | $36,446 | $3,037 | $17.52 | 133,048 |
| Supervisory Special Agent | $67,204 | $5,600 | $32.31 | 87,242 |
| Special Services Agent | $67,354 | $5,613 | $32.38 | 89,001 |
| Special Agent | $60,916 | $5,076 | $29.29 | 46,232 |
| Internal Affairs Investigator | $54,189 | $4,516 | $26.05 | 15,880 |
Top companies hiring special investigators now:
Which companies pay special investigators the most?
Special investigator salaries at City of Los Angeles and Ford Motor are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average special investigator salary at companies like Delaware State Government and Tufts Medical Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Los Angeles | $83,720 | $40.25 |
| 2 | Ford Motor | $79,803 | $38.37 |
| 3 | Delaware State Government | $69,667 | $33.49 |
| 4 | Tufts Medical Center | $68,651 | $33.01 |
| 5 | Selective Insurance | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| 6 | AmeriHealth Caritas | $59,950 | $28.82 |
| 7 | Bank of America | $59,132 | $28.43 |
| 8 | New York State Restaurant Association | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| 9 | Minnesota State Fair | $53,650 | $25.79 |
| 10 | GEICO | $52,563 | $25.27 |
| 11 | Allianz of America, Inc. | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| 12 | Monroe County | $48,972 | $23.54 |
| 13 | State of Connecticut | $48,532 | $23.33 |
| 14 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $46,417 | $22.32 |
| 15 | Texas | $45,677 | $21.96 |
| 16 | Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania | $39,149 | $18.82 |
| 17 | Indiana State Police | $35,502 | $17.07 |
| 18 | U-Haul | $34,941 | $16.80 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Special Investigator salary by industry
The average special investigator salary varies across industries:
- The average special investigator salary in the insurance industry is $62,240, the highest of any industry.
- The average special investigator salary in the finance industry is $57,615.
- Special investigators in the utilities industry earn an average salary of $52,848, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for special investigators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insurance | $62,240 | $29.92 |
| 2 | Government | $57,615 | $27.70 |
| 3 | Technology | $57,281 | $27.54 |
| 4 | Utilities | $52,848 | $25.41 |
High paying special investigator jobs
Special investigator salary trends
The average special investigator salary has risen by $8,833 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average special investigator earned $41,790 annually, but today, they earn $50,623 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for special investigators over the last decade.
Compare special investigator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average special investigator salary over time
Compare special investigator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Special investigator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,600 | $24.34 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $48,400 | $23.28 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $47,700 | $22.93 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $46,600 | $22.39 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $45,500 | $21.87 | +1.2% |
Recently added special investigator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Justice | Special Investigative Services Technician (SIS Technician) | Herlong, CA | 06/28/2025 | $59,018 |
| State of Kansas | Special Investigator | Shawnee, KS | 06/27/2025 | $36,293 |
| State of Pennsylvania | Special Investigator 2 | Harrisburg, PA | 06/25/2025 | $59,345 |
| Department of Justice | Special Investigative Services Technician (SIS Technician) | Greenville, IL | 06/24/2025 | $60,516 |
| Msccn | SIU Specialized Investigator-MCU-Rancho | Rancho Cordova, CA | 06/22/2025 | $83,300 |
| Travelers Indemnity Co | SIU Specialized Investigator-MCU | Sacramento, CA | 06/19/2025 | $83,300 |
| The Travelers Companies | SIU Specialized Investigator-MCU | Rancho Cordova, CA | 06/17/2025 | $83,300 |
| Department of Justice | Special Investigative Services Technician (SIS Technician) | Sheridan, OR | 05/08/2025 | $63,591 |
| United Natural Foods Inc. | Asset Protection Special Investigator | Bowie, MD | 04/26/2025 | $43,100 |
| State of Kansas | Special Investigator | Lane, KS | 04/19/2025 | $38,109 |
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