The average salary for a private detective in South Dakota is around $35,820 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $35,820.
Wages typically start from $27,420 and go up to $54,540.
36% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$26.22 per hour
$54,540 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.22 per hour
$46,230 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.22 per hour
$35,820 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$14.25 per hour
$29,630 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$13.18 per hour
$27,420 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 South Dakota. On average, they make less than librarians but more than sign language interpreters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Librarian salary | $39K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $40K |
| Family social worker salary | $39K |
| Executive assistant salary | $39K |
| Correctional officer salary | $39K |
| Private detective salary | $36K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $37K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $37K |
| Aesthetician salary | $43K |
| Sign language interpreter salary | $36K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)