Private Investigator Cost: Average Fees Explained

A private investigator is paid for time and, for some jobs, a fixed result. Hourly billing is common for open-ended work such as surveillance or tracking down information, while a flat fee is more common for defined tasks like a background check or locating a person. Many investigators ask for a retainer before starting.

Rates vary because the work does. A records search done at a desk is not the same job as several days of field surveillance, and an investigator in a big metro area generally has higher overhead than one in a smaller market. This page reports published figures and does not give legal advice. PI licensing rules vary by state, so confirm that any investigator you hire is licensed where the work will happen.

The national average hourly figure sits well inside a very wide range, from low-end rates to the top of the market. Where you live shapes the quote.

Chicago and New York are listed at the high end of the metro figures, while Dallas is listed lower. Even within one city, an investigator with specialized experience may charge well above the local average. Expenses such as mileage, equipment, and database fees are sometimes billed on top of the hourly rate, so ask how they are handled.

Some services are sold as a fixed price. The figures below come from two different sources, and each covers slightly different work.

A background investigation is listed at $250 – $800, per Zealous Advocate. Locating a subject is listed at $775 – $875. The marketplace figures from Bark put a general background check at $200 – $900, a criminal background check at $100 – $500, tracing a missing person at $700 – $1,200, and asset discovery at $1,000 – $1,600.

A flat fee gives you a ceiling, but it also defines the scope. If the investigator needs more time than expected, ask in advance whether the fee changes and what triggers it.

Surveillance is often the most expensive kind of work because it ties up an investigator for long stretches and may require more than one person.

Undercover surveillance is listed at $600 – $1,600 for an eight-hour day. The retainer is a deposit paid before work begins, and the investigator bills against it. A typical retainer is listed at $1,500 or more. Ask whether unused retainer funds are refundable and how often you will receive an itemized statement.

• Type of work. Desk research, field work, and surveillance each price differently.
• Hours and duration. Open-ended assignments cost more than a defined, short task.
• Location. Large metro areas tend to have higher rates.
• Number of investigators. Some surveillance needs a team.
• Expenses. Travel, mileage, equipment, and database searches may be billed separately.
• Experience and specialty. Former law enforcement, forensic work, and niche fields can raise a rate.
• Urgency. Rush assignments and nights or weekends may cost more.

Published numbers disagree, sometimes sharply. One source may report a survey of investigator firms, while another reports quotes collected through a lead-generation marketplace. Those pools may include different job types, different markets, and different pricing practices.

Zealous Advocate reports $25 – $250/hr, while Bark reports $68 – $125/hr and Talo reports $75 – $125/hr. Marketplace estimates may cover a different scope of work than a survey of established firms, and may skew toward smaller or newer providers. The averages also differ in how they treat outliers. Treat any one figure as a rough guide.

Price is only one factor. Ask to see the investigator's state license and confirm it with the licensing agency in your state. Rules for what an investigator may do, and what a client may ask, vary by state. If your matter involves a court case, a family dispute, or a legal question, talk to a licensed attorney in your state before hiring anyone.

Get the engagement terms in writing, including:

• The scope of work and what counts as finished
• The hourly rate or flat fee, and any minimum number of hours
• Which expenses you pay, and whether they need approval
• The retainer amount and refund terms
• How and when you will receive reports
• How the investigator handles confidentiality

Be cautious of anyone who promises results, asks for payment only in cash, or will not provide a license number.