The average salary for a private detective in Kentucky is around $47,650 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $47,650.
Wages typically start from $37,340 and go up to $70,150.
23% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$33.73 per hour
$70,150 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$26.96 per hour
$56,080 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.91 per hour
$47,650 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.34 per hour
$40,220 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.95 per hour
$37,340 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 Kentucky. On average, they make less than wedding planners but more than delivery service drivers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Wedding planner salary | $49K |
| Event planner salary | $49K |
| Locksmith salary | $51K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $48K |
| Embalmer salary | $50K |
| Private detective salary | $48K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $47K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $47K |
| Printing worker salary | $48K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $43K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)