Undercover Detective Salary
The work of an undercover detective work is just as it sounds: a detective, or investigator, uses pretexts, clothing disguises, and other subterfuge -- in other words, operates "undercover" -- to obtain evidence or knowledge in cases. Undercover detectives might work for the government, such as for a police department, or for individuals and businesses, such as private detectives. Undercover work is typically part of a detective's job description, and the pay is consistent with detectives' salaries.
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Local and State Detectives
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According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2009, the annual nationwide salary for a local government detective, such as a police or county sheriff detective, is $61,230. In comparison, a detective employed by a university or professional school earns a comparable national salary of $61,820. State detectives, such as an investigator for the state attorney general's office, earn an average nationwide salary of $54,940.
FBI Agent
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An FBI agent might go undercover to infiltrate an organization to gather evidence about its activities. The average national salary for a new FBI agent, combining a base salary with a 12.5 to 28.7 percent locality pay and 25 percent availability pay, is $61,100 to $69,900. Agents salaries increase over time with additional training and promotions.
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DEA Agent
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Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents often work undercover conducting the enforcement of federal narcotic laws. Similar to the FBI, a DEA agent earns a base salary plus locality and availability payments. A new DEA agent earns $49,746 to $55,483, depending on the agent's background, additional training, any advanced degrees and specialized skills. After four years of employment, DEA agents are eligible for promotion, and may earn $92,592 or more annually.
Private Detective
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Depending on the type of investigations that a private detective practices, undercover work may be involved. For example, some private detectives specialize in corporate investigations, where they might go undercover as employees, or cybercrime investigations, where they adopt a bogus identity on the Internet. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2008, the average nationwide salary for a private detective was $41,760. This figure varies depending on the private detective's experience, education, specialized skills and region.
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