The average salary for a private detective in Hawaii is around $45,750 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $45,750.
Wages typically start from $41,830 and go up to $83,050.
28% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$39.93 per hour
$83,050 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$31.90 per hour
$66,350 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$21.99 per hour
$45,750 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$21.05 per hour
$43,790 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.11 per hour
$41,830 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 Hawaii. On average, they make less than sign language interpreters but more than housekeeping cleaners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sign language interpreter salary | $42K |
| Locksmith salary | $64K |
| Travel agent salary | $48K |
| Meter reader salary | $52K |
| Lifeguard salary | $53K |
| Private detective salary | $46K |
| Garbage collector salary | $56K |
| Upholsterer salary | $57K |
| Administrative assistant salary | $51K |
| Housekeeping cleaner salary | $52K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)