The average salary for a private detective in North Carolina is around $51,370 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $51,370.
Wages typically start from $33,950 and go up to $75,170.
20% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$36.14 per hour
$75,170 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$29.75 per hour
$61,890 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$24.70 per hour
$51,370 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.45 per hour
$42,530 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$16.32 per hour
$33,950 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 North Carolina. On average, they make less than librarians but more than police officers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Librarian salary | $54K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $54K |
| Court reporter salary | $56K |
| Interior designer salary | $51K |
| Postal service worker salary | $53K |
| Private detective salary | $51K |
| Fire inspector salary | $53K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $60K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $48K |
| Police officer salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)