Private detective earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level private detective earnings begin at:

$43.69 per hour

$90,870 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:

$29.39 per hour

$61,130 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:

$23.06 per hour

$47,960 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:

$19.16 per hour

$39,850 per year

10th percentile

Starting level private detective earnings begin at:

$19.13 per hour

$39,790 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 18% less than similar careers in West Virginia. On average, they make less than customs inspectors but more than postal service clerks.

Career Median Salary
Customs inspector salary $78K
Special agent salary $78K
Hearing officer salary $80K
Coroner salary $63K
Social worker salary $73K
Private detective salary $48K
Funeral director salary $48K
Judicial law clerk salary $49K
Postal service worker salary $52K
Postal service clerk salary $52K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)