Private detective earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level private detective earnings begin at:

$60.81 per hour

$126,480 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:

$47.35 per hour

$98,500 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:

$31.83 per hour

$66,200 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:

$22.98 per hour

$47,810 per year

10th percentile

Starting level private detective earnings begin at:

$15.36 per hour

$31,960 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 Virginia. On average, they make less than customs inspectors but more than sheriffs.

Career Median Salary
Customs inspector salary $94K
Hearing officer salary $84K
Transit police officer salary $80K
Coroner salary $77K
American sign language interpreter salary $76K
Private detective salary $66K
Social worker salary $76K
Fire inspector salary $61K
Forensic science technician salary $60K
Sheriff salary $58K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)