The average salary for a private detective in Mississippi is around $39,060 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $39,060.
Wages typically start from $31,800 and go up to $69,170.
25% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$33.26 per hour
$69,170 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$25.17 per hour
$52,360 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$18.78 per hour
$39,060 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.41 per hour
$36,210 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$15.29 per hour
$31,800 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 Mississippi. On average, they make less than family social workers but more than nail technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Family social worker salary | $47K |
| Funeral director salary | $48K |
| Police officer salary | $46K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $38K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $44K |
| Private detective salary | $39K |
| Financial clerk salary | $43K |
| Locksmith salary | $43K |
| Upholsterer salary | $45K |
| Nail technician salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)