The average salary for a private detective in North Carolina is around $52,890 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $52,890.
Wages typically start from $36,600 and go up to $98,560.
11% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$47.38 per hour
$98,560 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$36.01 per hour
$74,900 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$25.43 per hour
$52,890 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.71 per hour
$41,000 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$17.60 per hour
$36,600 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 North Carolina. On average, they make less than librarians but more than probation officers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Librarian salary | $61K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $61K |
| Funeral director salary | $61K |
| Sheriff salary | $59K |
| Police officer salary | $59K |
| Private detective salary | $53K |
| Clergy member salary | $60K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $59K |
| Paralegal salary | $58K |
| Probation officer salary | $62K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)