The Average Income Of A Bounty Hunter Will Make You Pause

Bounty hunters generally fall under the same job category as private investigators which can make their pay easier to track. As of May 2024, the median income for this line of work, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $52,370 per year. However, according to the Occupational Employment and Wages for May 2023, a quarter of bounty hunters earned $40,130 or less, while the top 25% made $74,830 or more. In essence, the majority in this profession earn between $40,000 and $75,000 annually, with the average exceeding $60,000 – less than the income of the average American in their 30s or the salary of Americans in their 20s.

Yet, getting licensed isn't cheap, and different states set their own fees just like they do in the salaries of police officers. In California, getting a Bail Fugitive Recovery Agent license costs $622 for two years, and another $188 for renewal. The state also requires fingerprinting, proof of 20 hours of certified training, and an active liability insurance coverage of one million dollars. In Texas, bounty hunters must first earn a Commissioned Security Officer license from the Department of Public Safety. The fees are $50 for the license, $5 for a pocket card, and $2 for online processing. You'll also pay $28.25 for an FBI fingerprint check and complete a 45-hour classroom course. Florida state law lists an $80 appointment fee, while its Department of Financial Services charges $50 to file the license. 

Oftentimes the money to pay a bounty hunter comes from a cut of the bond fee. In California, most people who use a bail bond service pay 10% of the total bail amount. If the court sets bail at $50,000, the bond fee would then be $5,000. Bail-enforcement agents — those who track down people who skip bail — negotiate a cut of that fee with the bond company. State laws can also widen the gap. In Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Wisconsin, commercial bail bonding is banned. As a result, bounty hunting is prohibited. 

Certain states take a different approach. Texas law, specifically Chapter 1704 of the Occupations Code, says bail bond agents must be licensed in the individual county that they operate and must put up collateral — like real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, or even a co-signer — to back their deals. When it comes to pricing, each county sets its own rules. In Harris County, for example, the local board requires bonding companies to collect at least 10% upfront on serious violent or sexual charges. That means in counties where bail is high, agents can earn much more.