The average salary for a detective in the United States is around $83,170 per year.
Avg Salary
Detectives earn an average yearly salary of $83,170.
Wages typically start from $44,860 and go up to $139,180.
29% above national average Updated in 2019
Detective earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $129,090 |
| Alabama | $54,870 |
| Arkansas | $44,700 |
| Arizona | $77,596 |
| California | $100,310 |
| Colorado | $83,940 |
| Connecticut | $85,310 |
| District of Columbia | $133,330 |
| Delaware | $70,590 |
| Florida | $64,450 |
| Georgia | $53,640 |
| Hawaii | $106,630 |
| Iowa | $66,810 |
| Idaho | $67,690 |
| Illinois | $88,091 |
| Indiana | $71,912 |
| Kansas | $61,985 |
| Kentucky | $53,820 |
| Louisiana | $51,160 |
| Massachusetts | $94,560 |
| Maryland | $106,000 |
| Maine | $65,840 |
| Michigan | $80,300 |
| Minnesota | $72,780 |
| Missouri | $66,000 |
| Mississippi | $52,470 |
| Montana | $83,160 |
| North Carolina | $50,920 |
| North Dakota | $83,170 |
| Nebraska | $67,620 |
| New Hampshire | $71,960 |
| New Jersey | $103,530 |
| New Mexico | $83,170 |
| Nevada | $81,160 |
| New York | $84,340 |
| Ohio | $67,970 |
| Oklahoma | $57,400 |
| Oregon | $92,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,730 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,560 |
| Rhode Island | $77,290 |
| South Carolina | $48,270 |
| South Dakota | $61,130 |
| Tennessee | $58,310 |
| Texas | $82,260 |
| Utah | $65,870 |
| Virginia | $93,550 |
| Vermont | $83,170 |
| Washington | $84,580 |
| Wisconsin | $74,470 |
| West Virginia | $97,830 |
| Wyoming | $72,150 |
How do detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Detectives earn 8% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than judges but more than mail superintendents.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Judge salary | $137K |
| Make-Up artist salary | $67K |
| Hearing officer salary | $98K |
| Detective salary | $83K |
| Customs inspector salary | $83K |
| Special agent salary | $83K |
| Urban planner salary | $74K |
| Mail superintendent salary | $77K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)