Private detective earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level private detective earnings begin at:

$46.48 per hour

$96,680 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:

$28.82 per hour

$59,950 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:

$21.66 per hour

$45,060 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:

$18.58 per hour

$38,650 per year

10th percentile

Starting level private detective earnings begin at:

$17.58 per hour

$36,570 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 Georgia. On average, they make less than embalmers but more than aestheticians.

Career Median Salary
Embalmer salary $55K
Landscaper salary $55K
Precious metal worker salary $48K
Wedding planner salary $49K
Event planner salary $49K
Private detective salary $45K
Funeral director salary $50K
Family social worker salary $48K
Locksmith salary $54K
Aesthetician salary $49K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)