The median annual wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $47,060 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $61,610.
Pay spans roughly $38,780 at the 10th percentile to $105,450 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $22.62 per hour. An estimated 40 people work as private detectives and investigators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
| Median (annual) | $47,060 |
| Mean (annual) | $61,610 |
| Median (hourly) | $22.62 |
| 10th percentile | $38,780 |
| 90th percentile | $105,450 |
| Employment | 40 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.