The average salary for a private detective in New Mexico is around $41,600 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $41,600.
Wages typically start from $35,660 and go up to $66,350.
29% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$31.90 per hour
$66,350 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$30.90 per hour
$64,280 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.00 per hour
$41,600 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.74 per hour
$36,900 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.14 per hour
$35,660 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 New Mexico. On average, they make less than aestheticians but more than highway maintenance workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Aesthetician salary | $47K |
| Funeral director salary | $50K |
| Meter reader salary | $49K |
| Financial clerk salary | $48K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $49K |
| Private detective salary | $42K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $46K |
| Correctional officer salary | $48K |
| Administrative assistant salary | $46K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)