SOC 33-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Detectives and Criminal Investigators — Tennessee
Tennessee · 8 metro areas compared
In Tennessee the median wage is $77,090.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Tennessee the median wage is $77,090. That is 17.8% lower than the national median of $93,790. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $60,730 and $107,810. The lowest tenth earn under $49,660, while the highest tenth earn more than $149,280.
The area has 1,860 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.77 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 38th by median wage. Kingsport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $84,660. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 171st of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,660 | −47.1% |
| 25th | $60,730 | −35.2% |
| Median (50th) | $77,090 | −17.8% |
| 75th | $107,810 | +14.9% |
| 90th | $149,280 | +59.2% |
| Mean | $87,790 | −6.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingsport | $84,660 | 60 | |
| 2 | Memphis | $78,920 | 280 | |
| 3 | Knoxville | $78,600 | 230 | |
| 4 | Nashville | $78,460 | 660 | |
| 5 | Jackson | $75,610 | 100 | |
| 6 | Chattanooga | $74,600 | 140 | |
| 7 | Johnson City | $74,020 | 60 | |
| 8 | Clarksville | $72,800 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $77,090 goes as far as $83,885 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$77,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$83,885US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $77,090 a year, 17.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,660 to $149,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,860 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 38th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kingsport, at $84,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $77,090, or $37.06 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $93,790, so pay in Tennessee is 17.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Tennessee earns more than $149,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,660 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kingsport, at $84,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,860 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data