Private detective earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level private detective earnings begin at:

$43.25 per hour

$89,960 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:

$31.65 per hour

$65,830 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:

$23.69 per hour

$49,280 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:

$13.79 per hour

$28,680 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Private detective salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Nevada $69,300
District of Columbia $68,940
Alaska $67,240
California $65,420
Virginia $65,170
New Jersey $62,060
Illinois $60,630
New York $59,780
Idaho $57,420
Connecticut $57,300
Maryland $56,580
Rhode Island $54,930
Iowa $54,360
Massachusetts $54,340
New Mexico $53,750
Missouri $53,010
Oregon $52,260
Arizona $52,060
North Carolina $51,370
Hawaii $51,200
Colorado $50,740
Michigan $50,620
South Carolina $50,440
Alabama $49,280
New Hampshire $48,930
Washington $48,920
Kansas $48,380
Indiana $48,250
Georgia $47,500
Arkansas $47,280
Texas $46,720
Mississippi $46,430
Pennsylvania $45,950
Delaware $45,380
Kentucky $45,000
Tennessee $44,680
Louisiana $44,490
Wisconsin $42,510
Montana $42,260
West Virginia $41,130
Minnesota $40,540
Utah $38,510
Ohio $38,080
Oklahoma $37,220
Puerto Rico $36,890
Florida $36,570
South Dakota $35,820

How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?

Private detectives earn 6% less than similar careers in Alabama. On average, they make less than insurance sales agents but more than interior designers.

Career Median Salary
Insurance sales agent salary $54K
Detective salary $55K
Real estate agent salary $51K
Insurance appraiser salary $59K
Urban planner salary $59K
Private detective salary $49K
Recruiter salary $50K
Librarian salary $50K
Energy broker salary $46K
Interior designer salary $47K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)