The average salary for a private detective in California is around $63,010 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $63,010.
Wages typically start from $36,310 and go up to $96,610.
16% below national average Updated in 2021
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$46.45 per hour
$96,610 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$37.33 per hour
$77,640 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$30.29 per hour
$63,010 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$23.12 per hour
$48,100 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.46 per hour
$36,310 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Private detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Arkansas | $80,880 |
| Nevada | $78,480 |
| Colorado | $78,420 |
| Missouri | $77,030 |
| Oregon | $76,920 |
| Nebraska | $76,610 |
| Illinois | $72,840 |
| North Carolina | $69,520 |
| Virginia | $66,200 |
| Minnesota | $65,870 |
| New Hampshire | $64,700 |
| Washington | $64,700 |
| Connecticut | $64,360 |
| Montana | $63,840 |
| Alabama | $63,590 |
| District of Columbia | $63,170 |
| Rhode Island | $63,090 |
| Massachusetts | $63,050 |
| California | $63,010 |
| Alaska | $62,130 |
| New York | $61,590 |
| New Mexico | $61,310 |
| South Dakota | $60,460 |
| Hawaii | $59,610 |
| Florida | $58,200 |
| Maine | $55,670 |
| Iowa | $53,050 |
| Texas | $52,540 |
| Kansas | $52,390 |
| Maryland | $51,060 |
| Arizona | $50,710 |
| Michigan | $50,550 |
| Georgia | $50,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,530 |
| Tennessee | $49,810 |
| Utah | $49,650 |
| Idaho | $49,260 |
| Ohio | $48,770 |
| Louisiana | $48,320 |
| South Carolina | $47,960 |
| West Virginia | $47,960 |
| Wisconsin | $47,600 |
| Indiana | $47,040 |
| Kentucky | $45,330 |
| Delaware | $44,550 |
| New Jersey | $42,210 |
| Oklahoma | $39,550 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,090 |
| Mississippi | $31,820 |
How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Private detectives earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than ambulance dispatchers but more than meter readers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $71K |
| Paralegal salary | $63K |
| Transit police officer salary | $65K |
| Social worker salary | $62K |
| Judicial law clerk salary | $63K |
| Private detective salary | $63K |
| Family social worker salary | $61K |
| Legal secretary salary | $61K |
| Landscaper salary | $59K |
| Meter reader salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)