The average salary for a private detective in Maryland is around $51,060 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $51,060.
Wages typically start from $37,860 and go up to $78,770.
25% below national average Updated in 2021
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$37.87 per hour
$78,770 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$30.32 per hour
$63,070 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$24.55 per hour
$51,060 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$21.22 per hour
$44,140 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$18.20 per hour
$37,860 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 Maryland. On average, they make less than firefighters but more than correctional officers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Firefighter salary | $60K |
| Judicial law clerk salary | $59K |
| Paralegal salary | $60K |
| Landscaper salary | $56K |
| Arbitrator salary | $47K |
| Private detective salary | $51K |
| Legal secretary salary | $49K |
| Postal service worker salary | $52K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $52K |
| Correctional officer salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)