The average salary for a private detective in New York is around $61,590 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $61,590.
Wages typically start from $46,780 and go up to $95,860.
14% below national average Updated in 2021
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$46.09 per hour
$95,860 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$36.21 per hour
$75,320 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$29.61 per hour
$61,590 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$24.82 per hour
$51,630 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.49 per hour
$46,780 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 York. On average, they make less than funeral directors but more than paralegals.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Funeral director salary | $66K |
| Family social worker salary | $62K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $62K |
| Landscaper salary | $62K |
| Bailiff salary | $78K |
| Private detective salary | $62K |
| Legal secretary salary | $61K |
| Transit police officer salary | $51K |
| Meter reader salary | $61K |
| Paralegal salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)