The average salary for a private detective in Virginia is around $65,170 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $65,170.
Wages typically start from $31,390 and go up to $107,910.
7% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$51.88 per hour
$107,910 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$41.99 per hour
$87,340 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$31.33 per hour
$65,170 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.81 per hour
$41,210 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$15.09 per hour
$31,390 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 Virginia. On average, they make less than sign language interpreters but more than event planners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sign language interpreter salary | $71K |
| Insurance appraiser salary | $72K |
| Social worker salary | $73K |
| Librarian salary | $63K |
| Underwriter salary | $64K |
| Private detective salary | $65K |
| Real estate agent salary | $50K |
| Executive assistant salary | $62K |
| Wedding planner salary | $58K |
| Event planner salary | $58K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)