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Private Investigator salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a private investigator is $78,000 per annum, before tax, up $16,500 since 2018.
Pay depends heavily on the sector: insurance and corporate investigation generally pays better than general process serving, and the class of licence you hold decides what work you are allowed to take on. Night, weekend and on-call surveillance usually attracts penalty rates or a loading, which can lift a week's earnings above the ordinary rate. Because a large share of investigators are sole traders or work for small agencies, income also follows how much billable work they can keep on the books.
Roles that pay more than private investigator
The largest typical pay rise is $13,000 a year, moving into Insurance Investigator.
- Insurance Investigator+$13,000/yr
- Fraud Investigator+$9,400/yr
- Compliance Officer+$9,400/yr
How to negotiate a higher private investigator salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time private investigator salary is $78,000; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Legal research and Regulatory compliance tend to command a premium over general private investigator experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Insurance Investigator pays a typical $13,000 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Private Investigator salary questions
How much do private investigators earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a private investigator is $78,000 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is private investigator pay rising or falling?
The median private investigator salary is up $16,500 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than private investigator?
Insurance Investigator pays a typical $13,000 a year more and draws on similar skills to private investigator.