The average salary for a private detective in Kentucky is around $45,330 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $45,330.
Wages typically start from $31,190 and go up to $78,240.
17% below national average Updated in 2021
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$37.62 per hour
$78,240 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$30.77 per hour
$64,010 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$21.79 per hour
$45,330 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.01 per hour
$39,550 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$15.00 per hour
$31,190 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 Kentucky. On average, they make less than social workers but more than precious metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Social worker salary | $47K |
| American sign language interpreter salary | $49K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $52K |
| Postal service worker salary | $52K |
| Clergy member salary | $50K |
| Private detective salary | $45K |
| Paralegal salary | $46K |
| Sheriff salary | $47K |
| Police officer salary | $47K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)