The average salary for a private detective in Kentucky is around $45,000 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $45,000.
Wages typically start from $25,330 and go up to $74,540.
25% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$35.84 per hour
$74,540 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$27.30 per hour
$56,790 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$21.63 per hour
$45,000 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$16.59 per hour
$34,500 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$12.18 per hour
$25,330 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 about the same as related careers in Kentucky. On average, they make less than arbitrators but more than hazardous materials removal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Arbitrator salary | $50K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $51K |
| Funeral director salary | $44K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $47K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $44K |
| Private detective salary | $45K |
| Real estate appraiser salary | $42K |
| Landscaper salary | $42K |
| Police officer salary | $42K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $42K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)