The average salary for a private detective in Alabama is around $49,280 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $49,280.
Wages typically start from $28,680 and go up to $89,960.
16% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$43.25 per hour
$89,960 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$31.65 per hour
$65,830 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$23.69 per hour
$49,280 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.80 per hour
$37,020 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$13.79 per hour
$28,680 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 6% less than similar careers in Alabama. On average, they make less than insurance sales agents but more than interior designers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Insurance sales agent salary | $54K |
| Detective salary | $55K |
| Real estate agent salary | $51K |
| Insurance appraiser salary | $59K |
| Urban planner salary | $59K |
| Private detective salary | $49K |
| Recruiter salary | $50K |
| Librarian salary | $50K |
| Energy broker salary | $46K |
| Interior designer salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)




