The average salary for a private detective in South Dakota is around $44,840 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $44,840.
Wages typically start from $40,050 and go up to $49,560.
31% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$23.83 per hour
$49,560 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$23.34 per hour
$48,550 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$21.56 per hour
$44,840 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.65 per hour
$40,860 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.26 per hour
$40,050 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 South Dakota. On average, they make less than legal secretaries but more than administrative assistants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Legal secretary salary | $48K |
| Travel agent salary | $45K |
| Financial clerk salary | $46K |
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $46K |
| Nail technician salary | $45K |
| Private detective salary | $45K |
| Recreation worker salary | $42K |
| Shipping and receiving clerk salary | $44K |
| Customer service representative salary | $41K |
| Administrative assistant salary | $42K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)