The average salary for a private detective in Massachusetts is around $54,340 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $54,340.
Wages typically start from $24,760 and go up to $65,960.
34% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$31.71 per hour
$65,960 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$29.49 per hour
$61,350 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$26.12 per hour
$54,340 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$14.66 per hour
$30,500 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$11.91 per hour
$24,760 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 Massachusetts. On average, they make less than postal service clerks but more than aestheticians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Postal service clerk salary | $60K |
| Locksmith salary | $48K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $49K |
| Travel agent salary | $47K |
| Administrative assistant salary | $47K |
| Private detective salary | $54K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $48K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $44K |
| Family social worker salary | $44K |
| Aesthetician salary | $44K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)