The average salary for a private detective in New Jersey is around $42,210 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $42,210.
Wages typically start from $31,280 and go up to $98,070.
26% below national average Updated in 2021
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$47.15 per hour
$98,070 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$37.13 per hour
$77,240 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.29 per hour
$42,210 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.80 per hour
$37,020 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$15.04 per hour
$31,280 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 New Jersey. On average, they make less than paralegals but more than meter readers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Paralegal salary | $61K |
| Funeral director salary | $59K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $65K |
| Legislator salary | $38K |
| Clergy member salary | $62K |
| Private detective salary | $42K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $55K |
| Postal service worker salary | $55K |
| American sign language interpreter salary | $49K |
| Meter reader salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)