The average salary for a private detective in California is around $61,250 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $61,250.
Wages typically start from $42,600 and go up to $103,410.
17% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$49.71 per hour
$103,410 per year
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$39.47 per hour
$82,110 per year
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$29.45 per hour
$61,250 per year
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$21.82 per hour
$45,380 per year
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.48 per hour
$42,600 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Private detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $76,480 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 |
| Nevada | $69,300 |
| Vermont | $67,910 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 |
| Washington | $64,080 |
| California | $61,250 |
| Arizona | $61,030 |
| Illinois | $60,210 |
| New York | $59,140 |
| Utah | $57,910 |
| Minnesota | $57,880 |
| Maryland | $56,580 |
| Virginia | $56,160 |
| Delaware | $55,710 |
| New Jersey | $54,710 |
| Rhode Island | $54,620 |
| Wyoming | $54,310 |
| Alaska | $53,440 |
| North Carolina | $52,890 |
| Texas | $51,810 |
| Nebraska | $51,750 |
| South Carolina | $51,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,200 |
| Florida | $50,640 |
| Massachusetts | $50,240 |
| Tennessee | $49,360 |
| Colorado | $48,730 |
| Michigan | $48,650 |
| Idaho | $47,910 |
| Arkansas | $47,750 |
| Kentucky | $47,650 |
| Montana | $47,430 |
| Ohio | $47,200 |
| Alabama | $46,810 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 |
| Hawaii | $45,750 |
| Kansas | $45,260 |
| Georgia | $45,060 |
| South Dakota | $44,840 |
| North Dakota | $44,310 |
| Maine | $43,830 |
| Louisiana | $41,950 |
| Wisconsin | $41,850 |
| Indiana | $41,830 |
| Missouri | $41,600 |
| New Mexico | $41,600 |
| Iowa | $41,110 |
| Oklahoma | $39,680 |
| Mississippi | $39,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,890 |
How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Private detectives earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than family social workers but more than highway maintenance workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Family social worker salary | $65K |
| Drug & alcohol counselor salary | $59K |
| Landscaper salary | $63K |
| Real estate agent salary | $58K |
| Locksmith salary | $61K |
| Private detective salary | $61K |
| Garbage collector salary | $65K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $64K |
| Postal service worker salary | $64K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)