The average salary for a private detective in Massachusetts is around $63,050 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $63,050.
Wages typically start from $37,670 and go up to $99,790.
18% below national average Updated in 2021
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$47.98 per hour
$99,790 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$33.37 per hour
$69,410 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$30.31 per hour
$63,050 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.75 per hour
$47,320 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$18.11 per hour
$37,670 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 Massachusetts. On average, they make less than meter readers but more than precious metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Meter reader salary | $62K |
| Firefighter salary | $61K |
| Clergy member salary | $62K |
| Landscaper salary | $61K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $62K |
| Private detective salary | $63K |
| Arbitrator salary | $47K |
| Legal secretary salary | $59K |
| Family social worker salary | $49K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)