The average salary for a private detective in Pennsylvania is around $45,950 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $45,950.
Wages typically start from $29,710 and go up to $71,067.
28% below national average Updated in 2018
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$34.17 per hour
$71,067 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$27.79 per hour
$57,804 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.09 per hour
$45,950 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.56 per hour
$36,527 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$14.28 per hour
$29,710 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Private detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $69,300 |
| District of Columbia | $68,940 |
| Alaska | $67,240 |
| California | $65,420 |
| Virginia | $65,170 |
| New Jersey | $62,060 |
| Illinois | $60,630 |
| New York | $59,780 |
| Idaho | $57,420 |
| Connecticut | $57,300 |
| Maryland | $56,580 |
| Rhode Island | $54,930 |
| Iowa | $54,360 |
| Massachusetts | $54,340 |
| New Mexico | $53,750 |
| Missouri | $53,010 |
| Oregon | $52,260 |
| Arizona | $52,060 |
| North Carolina | $51,370 |
| Hawaii | $51,200 |
| Colorado | $50,740 |
| Michigan | $50,620 |
| South Carolina | $50,440 |
| Alabama | $49,280 |
| New Hampshire | $48,930 |
| Washington | $48,920 |
| Kansas | $48,380 |
| Indiana | $48,250 |
| Georgia | $47,500 |
| Arkansas | $47,280 |
| Texas | $46,720 |
| Mississippi | $46,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,950 |
| Delaware | $45,380 |
| Kentucky | $45,000 |
| Tennessee | $44,680 |
| Louisiana | $44,490 |
| Wisconsin | $42,510 |
| Montana | $42,260 |
| West Virginia | $41,130 |
| Minnesota | $40,540 |
| Utah | $38,510 |
| Ohio | $38,080 |
| Oklahoma | $37,220 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,890 |
| Florida | $36,570 |
| South Dakota | $35,820 |
How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Private detectives earn about the same as related careers in Pennsylvania. On average, they make less than correctional officers but more than event planners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Correctional officer salary | $50K |
| Travel agent salary | $41K |
| Funeral director salary | $43K |
| DJ salary | $41K |
| Locksmith salary | $47K |
| Private detective salary | $46K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $47K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $42K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $40K |
| Event planner salary | $39K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)