The average salary for a private detective in Washington is around $48,920 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $48,920.
Wages typically start from $40,230 and go up to $98,540.
17% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$47.38 per hour
$98,540 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$41.08 per hour
$85,440 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$23.52 per hour
$48,920 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.94 per hour
$43,560 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.34 per hour
$40,230 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 Washington. On average, they make less than healthcare social workers but more than funeral directors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare social worker salary | $60K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $57K |
| Executive assistant salary | $61K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $60K |
| Insurance sales agent salary | $52K |
| Private detective salary | $49K |
| Court reporter salary | $69K |
| Correctional officer salary | $55K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $57K |
| Funeral director salary | $57K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)