SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Memphis
Memphis, TN-MS-AR · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Memphis, TN is $99,680 per year, well above the national median of $51,220.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Memphis, TN is $99,680 per year, well above the national median of $51,220. The gap of 94.6% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $37,450 at the tenth percentile to more than $101,030 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,670 to $100,050.
The area has 310 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $44,890. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 69th of 564 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,450 | −26.9% |
| 25th | $45,670 | −10.8% |
| Median (50th) | $99,680 | +94.6% |
| 75th | $100,050 | +95.3% |
| 90th | $101,030 | +97.2% |
| Mean | $78,160 | +52.6% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Memphis run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $99,680 goes as far as $108,466 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 111.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$99,680as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$108,466US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $99,680 a year, 94.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,450 to $101,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $44,890.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Memphis, TN?
The median annual wage is $99,680, or $47.92 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 $51,220, so pay in Memphis, TN is 94.6% higher. 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 Memphis, TN earns more than $101,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,450 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 Nashville, at $44,890 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 310 jobs in this occupation in Memphis, TN. 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.
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