How Much Does a Private Investigator Cost in 2025?

Michelle Wilson - November 14, 2023

While many positions and jobs will have an average income level, finding a reliable source for a private investigator can be challenging. Currently, the average income of a private investigator is approximately $25.64 an hour. For top-earning investigators, this hourly wage sits closer to $46.64 an hour, but there isn’t an industry standard currently available. For many, the cost of a private investigator will solely depend on the billable hours, which may vary considerably according to the caseload.

Many PIs are independent contractors, working between 10 and 60 billable hours per week. If hiring someone to investigate another individual, finding a quality candidate should be your top priority. As such, expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $150 per hour for a high-performing individual.

How Do Private Investigators Charge for Services?

While most investigators will charge for hourly services, a few contractors will enforce a minimum service charge for their accounts. Typically, the individual will outline any upfront costs, often starting between two and eight hours of service. Many services will use a retainer platform, holding an up-front payment for the expected services. Your retainer will reduce as the services rendered, which may need additional top-ups depending on the contract.

Before signing a contract, you should always ask about any predicted retainer costs or expected timeline for project completion. Make sure the private investigator is aware of the core issue or expected resolution you’re after.

Are Private Investigators Worth the Expense?

Trying to justify the expense of a private investigator is critical before hiring. Occasionally, the decision to retain a PI is outside your control (for example, working with legal counsel), but you’ll need to evaluate your needs against the predicted costs.

If your billable hourly rate is higher than that of the private detective, using the service is financially worth it. However, a private investigator that charges more than your hourly wage may be challenging to justify in the long term. Many people consider these services to be a luxury expense that brings specialized skills and experience to your inquiry. Additionally, these contractors often hold access to several services and databases that you otherwise couldn’t access.

Do Private Investigators Charge Additional Fees for Services?

Occasionally, a client may receive additional charges for services outside the hourly rate. Additional fees may include travel costs, rental or surveillance fees, photography services, or hazard pay. If you want testimony in court, there may be other retainers. Any account requiring multiple investigators will often charge an increased hourly rate but remain less than two hourly wages.

Any account requiring a long-term service could result in a discount, although it depends on the intensity of the investigation and the expected timeline for completion. Finally, a private investigator may charge flat-rate services for simple inquiries. An example of a simple query is license plate registration.

Tips for Hiring a Private Investigator

Always talk to the private investigator about your goals and objectives before hiring. Ensure you outline concrete goals and objectives you want them to finish, particularly regarding deadlines. Ask the contractor about expected hours, duration, and how they bill for services. Find out what your private investigator considers billable hours and what would constitute an additional fee. The last thing you want is a surprise halfway through the investigation.

Are There Other Methods of Hiring a Private Investigator?

Hiring a private investigator doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Many individuals can handle the tasks a PI would handle using readily accessible tools or skills. The ability to remain hands-on can significantly reduce your billable hours, making the service more affordable. Performing tasks alone may not remove the need for an experienced professional, but it may help justify the expense.

How to Act as a Private Investigator

Whether trying to find an individual or wanting information about a particular person, performing a background check is the most straightforward starting point. A background check will use basic search options to collect in-depth information about someone. Search functionality will include the user’s name, email address, or phone number. Enter these details into the search bar on your background check website to get started.

These results highlight the individual characteristics of the person in question, including the contact details, previous addresses, social media accounts, financial reports, criminal history, and more. Additionally, the background check will reveal legal names, aliases, and other personal details connected with that specific person.

How to Find Resources Online

Tracking people using the internet is called web sleuthing. Several people engage in these skills as a hobby, but they can also help when acting as a private investigator. Outside of a background check company, several resources are available to help you perform a search. These outlets include the following:

Search Engines Online

Always start your online search with popular search engines. Start by entering the individual’s name into the search bar, along with relevant details about the party. Components may include work history, residence, expected social media accounts, or general location. Every popular search engine will hold individual search results, which may differ according to indexing.

Newspaper Archives

A newspaper archive commonly uses a publisher or an aggregator to generate content. These platforms will offer excellent data sources for individuals willing to put in the work. Users may need to review several years of content to find relevant articles. Additionally, many newspaper archives are hidden behind paywalls, requiring payment for access. If you don’t want to pay for the service, consider contacting your local library to access their database and archives.

Using Web-Sleuthing Communities

A web-sleuthing community acts as an online forum where interested individuals try to collect sources and tips for tracking people. A few communities help with investigations free of charge, using their skills as a hobby. Always remain cautious about any shared information online, regardless of the intent. Avoid identifying information, especially in a public forum.

Why Perform Additional Sleuthing for Your Private Investigator?

There are a few payoffs for spending time, energy, and effort in your search. Initially, individuals will pay considerably less for the scope of an investigation. The more work you’re willing to do before the investigation starts, the less your hired contractor will need to finish. A reduced size will effectively minimize any time required and resources, lowering the billable hours overall.

Performing the preliminary search doesn’t mean you’ll need to unravel all the truth; it simply means collecting, organizing, and recording all pertinent information for your investigation. By reducing the burden for your PI, you’ll also hold a financial benefit.

Conclusion

Although many individuals will go through life without needing a private investigator, the skills and experience they bring are valuable when the truth is on the line. If you want to hire a PI, understanding the basic functioning is imperative. Take a few steps to reduce the workload for your contractor to reduce the duration and expense overall. A private investigator is independent, which causes considerable fluctuations in the hourly wage. Generally, expect to pay between $65 to $200 an hour for billable services.