The average salary for a private detective in Texas is around $46,720 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $46,720.
Wages typically start from $29,410 and go up to $73,310.
27% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$35.25 per hour
$73,310 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$28.64 per hour
$59,580 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.46 per hour
$46,720 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$16.63 per hour
$34,590 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$14.14 per hour
$29,410 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 Texas. On average, they make less than event planners but more than embalmers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Event planner salary | $49K |
| Firefighter salary | $51K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $60K |
| Postal service worker salary | $60K |
| Landscaper salary | $48K |
| Private detective salary | $47K |
| Family social worker salary | $51K |
| Make-Up artist salary | $43K |
| Probation officer salary | $45K |
| Embalmer salary | $43K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)