The CBS procedural Tracker is built on an interesting premise in which series lead Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) recovers missing individuals in exchange for reward money. Despite the seemingly unlikely career, he made a large amount of money in the first two seasons of the show. Not every episode of the series relies on Colter to get a reward for his work. Some of the cases he takes on are favors for his friends, and some are even more personal in nature. The missing persons cases he takes on for his job, however, offer various amounts of reward money, ranging from $187 to $50,000. So far, Colter has made over $500,00 in Tracker, but these cases contributed the most to that total.

Colter Shaw’s Highest Paying Jobs In The Series Thus Far

Colter Shaw isn’t your typical bounty hunter. He’s not in it for the thrill—or at least not just for the thrill. He’s in it for the truth, the chase, and let’s be real… the money. If you’ve been keeping up with Tracker, then you already know this man has cashed some serious checks while solving high-stakes mysteries across the country. In this deep-dive, we’ll break down Shaw’s most lucrative gigs so far in the series. We’re not just talking numbers—we’re talking context, danger level, and what made each job worthy of that high-dollar payout.

Who Is Colter Shaw, Anyway?

Before we dig into the dollars, let’s set the stage. Colter Shaw is a lone wolf with a unique skill set. He’s not a cop. He’s not a PI. He’s a tracker. People pay him to find missing persons, uncover hidden truths, and chase down fugitives. And when the stakes are high, so is the cash.

Why Do People Pay Colter So Much?

Colter doesn’t just walk into jobs—he calculates risk vs. reward like a chess grandmaster. Whether it’s a kidnapped child or a missing tech whiz, the jobs that pay the most often come with the biggest dangers.

Colter Shaw’s Top-Paying Jobs (Ranked!)

1. The Silicon Valley Runaway – $250,000+

A Tech Giant’s Son Goes Missing
This case wasn’t just emotional—it was high-tech. When the heir of a tech empire vanished, Colter was offered a staggering quarter-million to bring him back alive. With media attention, cyber threats, and corporate espionage in the mix, the risk was sky-high. But so was the payday.

Why It Paid Big

• Massive public attention

• Corporate secrets on the line

• International threats

2. The Colorado Survivalist Case – $200,000

A Dangerous Man in the Wilderness
When a survivalist accused of domestic terrorism went off the grid in Colorado’s rugged terrain, Colter was brought in—because only someone like him could track someone like that. Between the danger, the location, and the national security implications, this one nearly killed him.

Payout Breakdown

• $150,000 bounty

• $50,000 bonus for live capture

3. The Missing Heiress in Palm Springs – $175,000

Glamour Meets Danger
On the surface, this job looked easy. A socialite vanishes after a night out. But as Colter dug deeper, he uncovered a human trafficking ring with international ties. His tactical skills and quick thinking saved more than one life—and earned him a hefty reward.

Why It Hit the Six Figures

• Discretion was everything

• The client was extremely wealthy

• Several lives were saved

4. The Kansas Kidnapping Case – $120,000

Racing Against Time
A small-town girl goes missing. The family offers a modest reward, but when the FBI gets involved and a wealthy benefactor ups the ante, Colter is back in the game. It’s a heart-wrenching race against time, with emotional stakes that hit hard.

Bonus Factor

• $20,000 offered by family

• $100,000 match from a private donor

5. The Eco-Terrorism Tracker Job – $100,000

Chasing Ghosts in Oregon
A radical environmental group was sabotaging oil facilities, and a key member vanished. Enter Colter Shaw. This wasn’t just about tracking—it was about navigating ideology, undercover agents, and environmental extremism.

Risk Factors

• Hidden explosives

• Undercover ops

• Working against eco-extremists

Not Every Job Is About Money

Some of Shaw’s most intense cases didn’t pay all that much. But he took them on anyway—because sometimes, it’s about the people, the challenge, or unfinished business. Let’s look at a few of those, too.

Honorable Mentions: High Stakes, Low Pay

The Amish Girl Case – $10,000

Simple fee. Emotional payoff. The girl was found safe thanks to Shaw’s instincts.

The College Student Vanishing – $8,000

This one was more about exposure than money. It brought Shaw into national headlines and helped him build credibility.

The Seattle Cyber Case – $5,000 + Tip-Off

The money was almost symbolic—but the tech connections he gained opened doors to later high-paying gigs.

What Determines Colter’s Paycheck?

Factors That Influence Colter Shaw’s Pay

• Urgency: Time-sensitive cases mean higher pay.

• Client Wealth: A billionaire pays more than a farmer.

• Danger Level: More danger = more dollars.

• Publicity Risk: If media’s involved, clients pay for silence.

• Outcome: Live captures or rescues often come with bonuses.

Who Hires Colter Shaw?

A Mixed Bag of Clients

• Private citizens

• Fortune 500 CEOs

• Law enforcement (off the record)

• Attorneys needing quiet help

• NGOs and activist groups

His clientele is as diverse as his skillset.

Where Does He Work?

Shaw goes everywhere. From California deserts to Oregon forests, backwoods Kansas towns to high rises in New York. The wider the net, the deeper the mystery—and often, the bigger the reward.

How Colter Calculates Risk vs. Reward

He’s got a literal formula. It’s something his dad taught him—assigning values to risk, reward, variables, and unknowns. That method has kept him alive—and rich.

Has His Fee Gone Up?

Definitely. Early on, he took $5K–$10K gigs. Now, he’s not stepping out of his truck for less than $25K—unless it’s personal.

Is Colter Shaw Getting Famous?

Not “Hollywood” famous, but definitely infamous in certain circles. The more he works, the more people whisper his name. Some love him. Others fear him. All respect him.

Does He Work Alone?

Mostly, yes. But he’s got contacts—an ex-girlfriend who helps with tech, a former cop who feeds him intel, and even a few shady sources on the dark web.

What’s His Most Dangerous Job So Far?

The Colorado survivalist gig nearly ended him. Not just physically, but mentally. Shaw was pushed to his limits—and that’s saying something for a guy who tracks like a bloodhound with a PhD in psychology.

Final Thoughts: The Price of Being a Tracker

Colter Shaw lives on the edge. The money is great, but it comes at a cost—his relationships, his safety, and sometimes, his peace of mind. Still, if there’s a trail to follow and someone’s life on the line, you can bet Colter will be there… for a price.