The average salary for a private detective in Iowa is around $41,110 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $41,110.
Wages typically start from $36,920 and go up to $64,080.
27% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$30.81 per hour
$64,080 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$26.29 per hour
$54,680 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.77 per hour
$41,110 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$18.45 per hour
$38,380 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.75 per hour
$36,920 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 Iowa. On average, they make less than financial clerks but more than medical administrative assistants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial clerk salary | $48K |
| Piano tuner salary | $39K |
| American sign language interpreter salary | $48K |
| Shipping and receiving clerk salary | $48K |
| Legal secretary salary | $47K |
| Private detective salary | $41K |
| Customer service representative salary | $46K |
| Travel agent salary | $45K |
| Administrative assistant salary | $45K |
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $41K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)