The average salary for a private detective in Louisiana is around $41,950 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $41,950.
Wages typically start from $35,000 and go up to $67,690.
28% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$32.55 per hour
$67,690 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$25.45 per hour
$52,930 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.17 per hour
$41,950 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.67 per hour
$36,750 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$16.83 per hour
$35,000 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 Louisiana. On average, they make less than landscapers but more than delivery service drivers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Landscaper salary | $48K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $44K |
| Upholsterer salary | $50K |
| Arbitrator salary | $46K |
| Financial clerk salary | $45K |
| Private detective salary | $42K |
| Travel agent salary | $36K |
| Drug & alcohol counselor salary | $38K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $45K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $39K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)