The average salary for a private detective in Florida is around $50,640 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $50,640.
Wages typically start from $35,990 and go up to $85,830.
18% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$41.26 per hour
$85,830 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$30.81 per hour
$64,080 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$24.35 per hour
$50,640 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$18.33 per hour
$38,120 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.31 per hour
$35,990 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 Florida. On average, they make less than correctional officers but more than travel agents.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Correctional officer salary | $50K |
| Landscaper salary | $51K |
| Court reporter salary | $49K |
| DJ salary | $34K |
| Locksmith salary | $49K |
| Private detective salary | $51K |
| Embalmer salary | $60K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $52K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $50K |
| Travel agent salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)