Prevailing Wage for Private Detectives and Investigators
Prevailing wage for Private Detectives and Investigators (SOC 33-9021) is set by the DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite sits. Whether your offer is for a Field Investigator role in San Francisco or a Loss Prevention Detective position in a smaller market, the city determines the applicable wage floor.
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Level 1 covers entry-level investigators with limited experience, typically performing routine surveillance or background checks under direct supervision. DOL expects minimal independent judgment and a narrow scope of assignments, often requiring close oversight from senior staff.
Level 2 applies to qualified investigators who handle a defined caseload with moderate independence. This is the most common filing level for Private Detectives and Investigators, covering professionals who conduct fieldwork, analyze records, and prepare reports with limited supervisory review.
Level 3 reflects experienced investigators who manage complex cases, apply specialized methods, and exercise significant independent judgment. Professionals at this level often mentor junior staff and handle sensitive or high-profile assignments with minimal oversight.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior investigators who lead investigations, set methodology, and may supervise a team. This level applies to roles requiring deep subject-matter expertise, whether in corporate fraud, insurance defense, or executive protection work.
Prevailing Wage for Private Detectives and Investigators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Private Detectives and Investigators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title-aliasing across SOC codes
Loss Prevention Associate and Asset Protection Detective roles sometimes get filed under retail or security SOC codes rather than SOC 33-9021, which can set a different wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 33-9021 before accepting any sponsored offer.
Factor out signing bonuses before comparing offers
Some investigative firms offer above-floor signing bonuses that are not counted toward the required prevailing wage. DOL requires the base annual salary to meet the floor independently, so a lump-sum bonus cannot close a gap between your offer and the L2 wage.
Compare Salem and San Juan before relocating
The prevailing wage floor for this occupation varies more sharply by city than most roles. Salem, Oregon sets one of the highest L1 floors in the country, while San Juan, Puerto Rico sits at the opposite end. Metro selection materially changes both the floor and realistic offer ranges.
Find employers sponsoring investigators on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which companies have sponsored Private Detectives and Investigators in the past, so you can focus applications on firms with an actual H-1B or green card filing history for this SOC rather than cold-applying to employers unlikely to sponsor.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 33-9021.00 alongside Private Detectives and Investigators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Asset Protection Detective Prevailing Wage
Asset Protection Detective Prevailing Wage
Asset Protection Detective positions fall under SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Field Investigator Prevailing Wage
Field Investigator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Field Investigator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Investigator Prevailing Wage
Investigator Prevailing Wage
Investigator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Loss Prevention Agent Prevailing Wage
Loss Prevention Agent Prevailing Wage
Loss Prevention Agent positions fall under SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Loss Prevention Associate Prevailing Wage
Loss Prevention Associate Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Loss Prevention Associate for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Loss Prevention Detective Prevailing Wage
Loss Prevention Detective Prevailing Wage
Loss Prevention Detective is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Loss Prevention Investigator Prevailing Wage
Loss Prevention Investigator Prevailing Wage
Loss Prevention Investigator positions fall under SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Loss Prevention Officer Prevailing Wage
Loss Prevention Officer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Loss Prevention Officer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Private Investigator Prevailing Wage
Private Investigator Prevailing Wage
Private Investigator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Special Investigator Prevailing Wage
Special Investigator Prevailing Wage
Special Investigator positions fall under SOC 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Private Detectives and Investigators?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For SOC 33-9021, that data is translated into four wage levels tied to experience and job complexity. Employers sponsoring a worker must file an LCA with OFLC certifying the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the specific worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 is entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified professionals handling independent caseloads, and it is the level most commonly filed for investigators. Level 3 reflects experienced specialists managing complex cases with significant autonomy. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. Your level should match the actual duties and supervisory structure in your job offer, not just the job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. Dense employer markets with high demand for investigators, like the San Francisco Bay Area or Washington DC, produce significantly higher floors than smaller metros. Because the LCA must list the actual worksite address, the applicable wage is tied to where you will physically work, not where the company is headquartered.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered salary falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and location, OFLC will not certify the LCA, which blocks the H-1B or PERM process from moving forward. USCIS will also flag a wage deficiency during petition review. The employer must either raise the offered salary to meet the floor or reclassify the position at a lower wage level with a scope of work that genuinely reflects that level.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 33-9021 for any metro area covered by DOL surveys. Enter the occupation code and the worksite metropolitan statistical area to retrieve current Level 1 through Level 4 figures. You can also search OFLC disclosure data to see what wage levels recent LCA filings used for Field Investigator and related titles in that metro. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored job listings by location and role to see which employers have filed for this occupation in markets you are targeting.
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