The average salary for a private detective in Pennsylvania is around $51,200 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $51,200.
Wages typically start from $38,380 and go up to $91,470.
17% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$43.98 per hour
$91,470 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$34.53 per hour
$71,830 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$24.62 per hour
$51,200 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$21.56 per hour
$44,840 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$18.45 per hour
$38,380 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 Pennsylvania. On average, they make less than wedding planners but more than precious metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Wedding planner salary | $58K |
| Fire inspector salary | $59K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $59K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $61K |
| Postal service worker salary | $61K |
| Private detective salary | $51K |
| Clergy salary | $58K |
| Locksmith salary | $52K |
| Drug & alcohol counselor salary | $52K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $55K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)