GITNUXREPORT 2026

Private Investigator Industry Statistics

The private investigator industry is growing globally, driven by corporate demand and digital services.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Surveillance services account for 41% of U.S. PI billable hours in 2023.

Statistic 2

Background checks represent 25% of PI caseloads globally in 2023.

Statistic 3

Corporate due diligence investigations comprise 18% of U.S. PI revenue.

Statistic 4

Infidelity probes make up 12% of individual client cases in 2023.

Statistic 5

Insurance fraud investigations totaled 150,000 cases handled by U.S. PIs in 2023.

Statistic 6

Missing persons searches accounted for 8% of PI workloads in 2023.

Statistic 7

Asset searches conducted in 22% of divorce cases by PIs in 2023.

Statistic 8

Worker’s comp fraud probes by PIs saved insurers $1.2B in 2023.

Statistic 9

Process serving handled 2.5 million services via PIs in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 10

Cybercrime investigations grew to 15% of PI services in 2023.

Statistic 11

Child custody surveillance cases: 35,000 annually by U.S. PIs 2023.

Statistic 12

Intellectual property theft probes: 9% of corporate PI work 2023.

Statistic 13

Locating debtors services in 11% of collection agency PI referrals 2023.

Statistic 14

Executive protection details: 7,200 contracts by PIs in 2023 U.S.

Statistic 15

Bug sweeps and TSCM services up 20% in PI caseloads 2023.

Statistic 16

Alimony fraud investigations in 14% of post-divorce PI cases 2023.

Statistic 17

Tenant screening background checks: 1.8M by PIs in 2023.

Statistic 18

Accident reconstruction reports prepared by PIs: 45,000 in 2023.

Statistic 19

Employment verification checks: 28% of HR PI services 2023.

Statistic 20

Forensic accounting integrations in 16% of PI financial probes 2023.

Statistic 21

There were 35,210 private detectives and investigators employed in the U.S. in 2023.

Statistic 22

The U.S. PI workforce grew by 2.5% from 2022 to 2023, adding 860 jobs.

Statistic 23

Average hourly wage for U.S. PIs was $31.45 in May 2023.

Statistic 24

42% of U.S. PIs were self-employed in 2023.

Statistic 25

California employed 4,210 PIs in 2023, the highest in U.S.

Statistic 26

Entry-level PI salary averaged $45,680 annually in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 27

Female PIs comprised 22.3% of the U.S. workforce in 2023.

Statistic 28

Median annual wage for PIs was $59,380 in U.S. May 2023.

Statistic 29

New York state had 3,450 PI jobs in 2023.

Statistic 30

PI employment projected to grow 6% from 2022-2032 in U.S.

Statistic 31

Average work experience for U.S. PIs is 8.7 years in 2023.

Statistic 32

Texas PI employment totaled 2,980 in 2023.

Statistic 33

65% of U.S. PIs hold a bachelor's degree or higher in 2023.

Statistic 34

Florida had 2,450 PI positions filled in 2023.

Statistic 35

PI turnover rate in U.S. industry was 14.2% in 2023.

Statistic 36

Illinois employed 1,890 PIs in 2023.

Statistic 37

28% of PIs worked part-time in U.S. 2023 survey.

Statistic 38

Pennsylvania PI jobs numbered 1,620 in 2023.

Statistic 39

Veteran PIs make up 12% of U.S. workforce in 2023.

Statistic 40

Ohio had 1,450 PI employments in 2023.

Statistic 41

PI union membership rate is 4.1% in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 42

Michigan PI workforce at 1,210 in 2023.

Statistic 43

Average age of U.S. PIs is 47 years in 2023.

Statistic 44

Georgia employed 1,080 PIs in 2023.

Statistic 45

75% of PIs have law enforcement background in 2023 survey.

Statistic 46

North Carolina PI jobs: 980 in 2023.

Statistic 47

PI remote work adoption at 18% in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 48

New Jersey had 920 PI employments in 2023.

Statistic 49

In 2023, the U.S. private investigator industry generated $8.5 billion in revenue, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.

Statistic 50

The global private investigation market was valued at $12.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $20.1 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%.

Statistic 51

Private investigators in the U.S. contributed to a market size of 45,000 establishments in 2023.

Statistic 52

The U.S. PI industry revenue per employee averaged $185,000 in 2023.

Statistic 53

Asia-Pacific region held 35% of the global PI market share in 2023 due to rising corporate fraud cases.

Statistic 54

U.S. PI industry profit margin stood at 7.8% in 2023 amid rising operational costs.

Statistic 55

The European PI market grew by 5.1% annually from 2020-2023, reaching €6.2 billion.

Statistic 56

Corporate clients accounted for 52% of U.S. PI industry revenue in 2023.

Statistic 57

Online PI services segment grew 12% YoY in 2023, contributing $1.2 billion globally.

Statistic 58

U.S. PI market concentration is low with top 4 firms holding less than 15% share in 2023.

Statistic 59

The PI industry in Canada reported CAD 1.8 billion revenue in 2023.

Statistic 60

Fraud investigation services made up 28% of global PI revenue in 2023.

Statistic 61

U.S. PI industry exports were negligible at under $50 million in 2023.

Statistic 62

Insurance claims investigation segment valued at $2.9 billion in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 63

PI market in India expanded to INR 15 billion in 2023 with 18% CAGR.

Statistic 64

U.S. PI industry total assets reached $4.2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 65

Background check services contributed 22% to global PI revenue in 2023.

Statistic 66

Australian PI industry revenue hit AUD 1.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 67

Digital forensics subsector grew 15% in U.S. PI market 2023.

Statistic 68

UK PI sector valued at £850 million in 2023 with 3.8% growth.

Statistic 69

51 U.S. states require PI licensing, with varying education mandates.

Statistic 70

37 states mandate 2,000+ hours of experience for PI licensure in 2023.

Statistic 71

GDPR compliance challenges 42% of EU PIs in data handling 2023.

Statistic 72

Wiretapping illegal in all U.S. states without court order for PIs.

Statistic 73

28% of PIs faced legal challenges from privacy lawsuits in 2023.

Statistic 74

California PI license renewal requires 8 hours CE annually.

Statistic 75

FCRA violations cost PI firms $15M in fines in 2023 U.S.

Statistic 76

Trespass laws led to 120 PI arrests across U.S. in 2023.

Statistic 77

Bond requirements average $10,000 for PI licenses in 20 states.

Statistic 78

HIPAA restrictions limit 65% of medical record accesses by PIs 2023.

Statistic 79

Drone surveillance regs grounded 15% of PI ops in 2023.

Statistic 80

Insurance mandates cover 92% of PI firms, avg premium $4,500/yr.

Statistic 81

Stalking accusations in 9% of PI surveillance cases 2023.

Statistic 82

Background check turnaround time regulated to 72 hrs in 12 states.

Statistic 83

Firearm carry permits required for 45% of armed PIs by state law.

Statistic 84

Data breach reporting mandatory within 72 hrs for PIs in EU.

Statistic 85

76% of PIs cite regulatory compliance as top operational challenge 2023.

Statistic 86

No PI license in 5 U.S. states, leading to oversight issues.

Statistic 87

ECPA limits electronic monitoring, affecting 33% of cyber PI work.

Statistic 88

Avg PI license fee $450 with fingerprinting in 40 states 2023.

Statistic 89

Cybersecurity threats challenged 27% of PI data security in 2023.

Statistic 90

68% of U.S. PI firms use GPS tracking devices in 2023 operations.

Statistic 91

Drone surveillance adopted by 32% of PIs for aerial monitoring in 2023.

Statistic 92

AI-powered facial recognition software used in 45% of background checks 2023.

Statistic 93

Digital forensics tools like Cellebrite utilized by 78% of PI firms 2023.

Statistic 94

Cloud-based case management systems implemented by 61% of PIs in 2023.

Statistic 95

Body-worn cameras employed in 29% of surveillance ops by PIs 2023.

Statistic 96

OSINT tools such as Maltego used by 82% of investigative PIs 2023.

Statistic 97

4K video surveillance cameras standard in 55% of PI vehicles 2023.

Statistic 98

Blockchain analysis software for crypto tracing by 19% of PIs 2023.

Statistic 99

Thermal imaging devices for night surveillance: 41% adoption 2023.

Statistic 100

Skip tracing software like Accurint accessed by 67% of PIs 2023.

Statistic 101

Mobile phone geolocation trackers used in 53% of infidelity cases 2023.

Statistic 102

Cybersecurity auditing tools in 24% of corporate PI gigs 2023.

Statistic 103

VR training simulations adopted by 12% of PI academies 2023.

Statistic 104

License plate readers integrated in 38% of PI surveillance rigs 2023.

Statistic 105

Data scraping bots for social media intel by 71% of OSINT PIs 2023.

Statistic 106

Encrypted communication apps like Signal used by 89% of PIs 2023.

Statistic 107

Biometric verification tools in 26% of identity checks 2023.

Statistic 108

Predictive analytics software for fraud detection: 33% usage 2023.

Statistic 109

Night vision binoculars standard in 64% of field kits 2023.

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Ever wondered who's uncovering corporate secrets or tracking down missing persons behind the scenes? The private investigator industry, a booming $8.5 billion sector in the U.S. alone, is a high-stakes world where cutting-edge technology meets old-school detective work to solve everything from fraud to infidelity cases.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, the U.S. private investigator industry generated $8.5 billion in revenue, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.
The global private investigation market was valued at $12.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $20.1 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%.
Private investigators in the U.S. contributed to a market size of 45,000 establishments in 2023.
There were 35,210 private detectives and investigators employed in the U.S. in 2023.
The U.S. PI workforce grew by 2.5% from 2022 to 2023, adding 860 jobs.
Average hourly wage for U.S. PIs was $31.45 in May 2023.
Surveillance services account for 41% of U.S. PI billable hours in 2023.
Background checks represent 25% of PI caseloads globally in 2023.
Corporate due diligence investigations comprise 18% of U.S. PI revenue.
68% of U.S. PI firms use GPS tracking devices in 2023 operations.
Drone surveillance adopted by 32% of PIs for aerial monitoring in 2023.
AI-powered facial recognition software used in 45% of background checks 2023.
51 U.S. states require PI licensing, with varying education mandates.
37 states mandate 2,000+ hours of experience for PI licensure in 2023.
GDPR compliance challenges 42% of EU PIs in data handling 2023.

The private investigator industry is growing globally, driven by corporate demand and digital services.

Common Services

Surveillance services account for 41% of U.S. PI billable hours in 2023.
Background checks represent 25% of PI caseloads globally in 2023.
Corporate due diligence investigations comprise 18% of U.S. PI revenue.
Infidelity probes make up 12% of individual client cases in 2023.
Insurance fraud investigations totaled 150,000 cases handled by U.S. PIs in 2023.
Missing persons searches accounted for 8% of PI workloads in 2023.
Asset searches conducted in 22% of divorce cases by PIs in 2023.
Worker’s comp fraud probes by PIs saved insurers $1.2B in 2023.
Process serving handled 2.5 million services via PIs in U.S. 2023.
Cybercrime investigations grew to 15% of PI services in 2023.
Child custody surveillance cases: 35,000 annually by U.S. PIs 2023.
Intellectual property theft probes: 9% of corporate PI work 2023.
Locating debtors services in 11% of collection agency PI referrals 2023.
Executive protection details: 7,200 contracts by PIs in 2023 U.S.
Bug sweeps and TSCM services up 20% in PI caseloads 2023.
Alimony fraud investigations in 14% of post-divorce PI cases 2023.
Tenant screening background checks: 1.8M by PIs in 2023.
Accident reconstruction reports prepared by PIs: 45,000 in 2023.
Employment verification checks: 28% of HR PI services 2023.
Forensic accounting integrations in 16% of PI financial probes 2023.

Common Services Interpretation

While 41% of a U.S. PI's workday is spent watching people from a van, the other 59% is dedicated to proving that reality is often stranger, and far more litigious, than fiction.

Employment and Workforce

There were 35,210 private detectives and investigators employed in the U.S. in 2023.
The U.S. PI workforce grew by 2.5% from 2022 to 2023, adding 860 jobs.
Average hourly wage for U.S. PIs was $31.45 in May 2023.
42% of U.S. PIs were self-employed in 2023.
California employed 4,210 PIs in 2023, the highest in U.S.
Entry-level PI salary averaged $45,680 annually in U.S. 2023.
Female PIs comprised 22.3% of the U.S. workforce in 2023.
Median annual wage for PIs was $59,380 in U.S. May 2023.
New York state had 3,450 PI jobs in 2023.
PI employment projected to grow 6% from 2022-2032 in U.S.
Average work experience for U.S. PIs is 8.7 years in 2023.
Texas PI employment totaled 2,980 in 2023.
65% of U.S. PIs hold a bachelor's degree or higher in 2023.
Florida had 2,450 PI positions filled in 2023.
PI turnover rate in U.S. industry was 14.2% in 2023.
Illinois employed 1,890 PIs in 2023.
28% of PIs worked part-time in U.S. 2023 survey.
Pennsylvania PI jobs numbered 1,620 in 2023.
Veteran PIs make up 12% of U.S. workforce in 2023.
Ohio had 1,450 PI employments in 2023.
PI union membership rate is 4.1% in U.S. 2023.
Michigan PI workforce at 1,210 in 2023.
Average age of U.S. PIs is 47 years in 2023.
Georgia employed 1,080 PIs in 2023.
75% of PIs have law enforcement background in 2023 survey.
North Carolina PI jobs: 980 in 2023.
PI remote work adoption at 18% in U.S. 2023.
New Jersey had 920 PI employments in 2023.

Employment and Workforce Interpretation

While the 35,000 private eyes on America's case are aging, well-educated, and increasingly in demand, nearly half are solo operators, hinting that the most successful investigators are the ones who've already cracked the mystery of self-employment.

Market Size and Revenue

In 2023, the U.S. private investigator industry generated $8.5 billion in revenue, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.
The global private investigation market was valued at $12.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $20.1 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%.
Private investigators in the U.S. contributed to a market size of 45,000 establishments in 2023.
The U.S. PI industry revenue per employee averaged $185,000 in 2023.
Asia-Pacific region held 35% of the global PI market share in 2023 due to rising corporate fraud cases.
U.S. PI industry profit margin stood at 7.8% in 2023 amid rising operational costs.
The European PI market grew by 5.1% annually from 2020-2023, reaching €6.2 billion.
Corporate clients accounted for 52% of U.S. PI industry revenue in 2023.
Online PI services segment grew 12% YoY in 2023, contributing $1.2 billion globally.
U.S. PI market concentration is low with top 4 firms holding less than 15% share in 2023.
The PI industry in Canada reported CAD 1.8 billion revenue in 2023.
Fraud investigation services made up 28% of global PI revenue in 2023.
U.S. PI industry exports were negligible at under $50 million in 2023.
Insurance claims investigation segment valued at $2.9 billion in U.S. 2023.
PI market in India expanded to INR 15 billion in 2023 with 18% CAGR.
U.S. PI industry total assets reached $4.2 billion in 2023.
Background check services contributed 22% to global PI revenue in 2023.
Australian PI industry revenue hit AUD 1.1 billion in 2023.
Digital forensics subsector grew 15% in U.S. PI market 2023.
UK PI sector valued at £850 million in 2023 with 3.8% growth.

Market Size and Revenue Interpretation

It seems business is booming for private eyes, as their $20 billion global trade is driven less by wandering spouses and more by corporate fraud, digital forensics, and background checks, proving that the most valuable secrets are now found on hard drives rather than in hotel rooms.

Regulations and Challenges

51 U.S. states require PI licensing, with varying education mandates.
37 states mandate 2,000+ hours of experience for PI licensure in 2023.
GDPR compliance challenges 42% of EU PIs in data handling 2023.
Wiretapping illegal in all U.S. states without court order for PIs.
28% of PIs faced legal challenges from privacy lawsuits in 2023.
California PI license renewal requires 8 hours CE annually.
FCRA violations cost PI firms $15M in fines in 2023 U.S.
Trespass laws led to 120 PI arrests across U.S. in 2023.
Bond requirements average $10,000 for PI licenses in 20 states.
HIPAA restrictions limit 65% of medical record accesses by PIs 2023.
Drone surveillance regs grounded 15% of PI ops in 2023.
Insurance mandates cover 92% of PI firms, avg premium $4,500/yr.
Stalking accusations in 9% of PI surveillance cases 2023.
Background check turnaround time regulated to 72 hrs in 12 states.
Firearm carry permits required for 45% of armed PIs by state law.
Data breach reporting mandatory within 72 hrs for PIs in EU.
76% of PIs cite regulatory compliance as top operational challenge 2023.
No PI license in 5 U.S. states, leading to oversight issues.
ECPA limits electronic monitoring, affecting 33% of cyber PI work.
Avg PI license fee $450 with fingerprinting in 40 states 2023.
Cybersecurity threats challenged 27% of PI data security in 2023.

Regulations and Challenges Interpretation

The private investigator field is a regulatory minefield where one must be part sleuth, part lawyer, and part contortionist just to avoid the trifecta of lawsuits, fines, and jail time.

Technology and Tools

68% of U.S. PI firms use GPS tracking devices in 2023 operations.
Drone surveillance adopted by 32% of PIs for aerial monitoring in 2023.
AI-powered facial recognition software used in 45% of background checks 2023.
Digital forensics tools like Cellebrite utilized by 78% of PI firms 2023.
Cloud-based case management systems implemented by 61% of PIs in 2023.
Body-worn cameras employed in 29% of surveillance ops by PIs 2023.
OSINT tools such as Maltego used by 82% of investigative PIs 2023.
4K video surveillance cameras standard in 55% of PI vehicles 2023.
Blockchain analysis software for crypto tracing by 19% of PIs 2023.
Thermal imaging devices for night surveillance: 41% adoption 2023.
Skip tracing software like Accurint accessed by 67% of PIs 2023.
Mobile phone geolocation trackers used in 53% of infidelity cases 2023.
Cybersecurity auditing tools in 24% of corporate PI gigs 2023.
VR training simulations adopted by 12% of PI academies 2023.
License plate readers integrated in 38% of PI surveillance rigs 2023.
Data scraping bots for social media intel by 71% of OSINT PIs 2023.
Encrypted communication apps like Signal used by 89% of PIs 2023.
Biometric verification tools in 26% of identity checks 2023.
Predictive analytics software for fraud detection: 33% usage 2023.
Night vision binoculars standard in 64% of field kits 2023.

Technology and Tools Interpretation

The modern private investigator is less trench coat and fedora and more a walking arsenal of digital forensics, AI-powered snooping, and encrypted chats, with their trusty night vision binoculars now competing for kit space with a license plate reader and a 4K drone.

Sources & References

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