The average salary for a private detective in Washington is around $64,080 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $64,080.
Wages typically start from $43,060 and go up to $104,220.
12% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$50.11 per hour
$104,220 per year
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$40.72 per hour
$84,700 per year
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$30.81 per hour
$64,080 per year
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.39 per hour
$46,580 per year
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.70 per hour
$43,060 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 Washington. On average, they make less than drug and alcohol counselors but more than precious metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Drug and alcohol counselor salary | $69K |
| Family social worker salary | $74K |
| Bailiff salary | $78K |
| Meter reader salary | $66K |
| Landscaper salary | $72K |
| Private detective salary | $64K |
| American sign language interpreter salary | $62K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $65K |
| DJ salary | $47K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)