The average salary for a private detective in the United States is around $51,220 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $51,220.
Wages typically start from $36,740 and go up to $97,630.
13% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$46.94 per hour
$97,630 per year
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$35.57 per hour
$73,990 per year
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$24.62 per hour
$51,220 per year
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.57 per hour
$40,700 per year
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.66 per hour
$36,740 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Private detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $78,480 |
| Oregon | $76,480 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Maryland | $51,060 |
| 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 | $33,090 |
How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Private detectives earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than postal service clerks but more than meter readers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Postal service clerk salary | $62K |
| Postal service worker salary | $62K |
| Bailiff salary | $57K |
| Landscaper salary | $58K |
| Legal secretary salary | $56K |
| Private detective salary | $51K |
| Funeral director salary | $55K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $53K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $53K |
| Meter reader salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)