The average salary for a private detective in Alaska is around $53,440 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $53,440.
Wages typically start from $39,620 and go up to $105,970.
21% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$50.95 per hour
$105,970 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$34.25 per hour
$71,240 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$25.69 per hour
$53,440 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.57 per hour
$42,780 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.05 per hour
$39,620 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 Alaska. On average, they make less than social workers but more than firefighters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Social worker salary | $61K |
| Judicial law clerk salary | $68K |
| Landscaper salary | $68K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $67K |
| Family social worker salary | $63K |
| Private detective salary | $53K |
| Meter reader salary | $63K |
| Legal secretary salary | $61K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $54K |
| Firefighter salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)