The average salary for a private detective in Pennsylvania is around $50,530 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $50,530.
Wages typically start from $32,040 and go up to $71,630.
25% below national average Updated in 2021
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$34.44 per hour
$71,630 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$29.01 per hour
$60,340 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$24.29 per hour
$50,530 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.09 per hour
$39,710 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$15.41 per hour
$32,040 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 Pennsylvania. On average, they make less than postal service clerks but more than landscapers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Postal service clerk salary | $52K |
| Postal service worker salary | $52K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $49K |
| Legal secretary salary | $48K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $48K |
| Private detective salary | $51K |
| American sign language interpreter salary | $42K |
| Family social worker salary | $47K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $47K |
| Landscaper salary | $46K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)