Private detective earnings by seniority

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Private detective salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Arkansas $80,880
Nevada $78,480
Colorado $78,420
Missouri $77,030
Oregon $76,920
Nebraska $76,610
Illinois $72,840
North Carolina $69,520
Virginia $66,200
Minnesota $65,870
New Hampshire $64,700
Washington $64,700
Connecticut $64,360
Montana $63,840
Alabama $63,590
District of Columbia $63,170
Rhode Island $63,090
Massachusetts $63,050
California $63,010
Alaska $62,130
New York $61,590
New Mexico $61,310
South Dakota $60,460
Hawaii $59,610
Florida $58,200
Maine $55,670
Iowa $53,050
Texas $52,540
Kansas $52,390
Maryland $51,060
Arizona $50,710
Michigan $50,550
Georgia $50,530
Pennsylvania $50,530
Tennessee $49,810
Utah $49,650
Idaho $49,260
Ohio $48,770
Louisiana $48,320
South Carolina $47,960
West Virginia $47,960
Wisconsin $47,600
Indiana $47,040
Kentucky $45,330
Delaware $44,550
New Jersey $42,210
Oklahoma $39,550
Puerto Rico $33,090
Mississippi $31,820

How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?

Private detectives earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than probation officers but more than clergy members.

Career Median Salary
Probation officer salary $60K
Social worker salary $61K
Judicial law clerk salary $51K
Arbitrator salary $49K
Real estate agent salary $48K
Private detective salary $59K
American sign language interpreter salary $49K
Paralegal salary $56K
Fish and game warden salary $61K
Clergy member salary $50K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)