The average salary for a private detective in Massachusetts is around $50,240 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $50,240.
Wages typically start from $40,250 and go up to $121,090.
12% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$58.21 per hour
$121,090 per year
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$45.51 per hour
$94,660 per year
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$24.15 per hour
$50,240 per year
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.45 per hour
$42,540 per year
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.35 per hour
$40,250 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 Massachusetts. On average, they make less than healthcare social workers but more than drug & alcohol counselors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare social worker salary | $76K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $75K |
| Court reporter salary | $80K |
| Clergy salary | $72K |
| Firefighter salary | $73K |
| Private detective salary | $50K |
| Landscaper salary | $64K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $62K |
| Locksmith salary | $59K |
| Drug & alcohol counselor salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)