SOC 33-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Private Detectives and Investigators — Tennessee
Tennessee · 3 metro areas compared
At $49,360, median pay for Private Detectives and Investigators in Tennessee tracks the national median of $51,220 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $49,360, median pay for Private Detectives and Investigators in Tennessee tracks the national median of $51,220 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $38,520 and $99,170. The lowest tenth earn under $33,930, while the highest tenth earn more than $101,030.
Employment stands at 940, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 26th by median wage. Memphis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $99,680. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 421st of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,930 | −33.8% |
| 25th | $38,520 | −24.8% |
| Median (50th) | $49,360 | −3.6% |
| 75th | $99,170 | +93.6% |
| 90th | $101,030 | +97.2% |
| Mean | $63,810 | +24.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $49,360 goes as far as $53,711 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,360as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,711US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,360 a year, 3.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,930 to $101,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 940 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 26th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Memphis, at $99,680.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Private Detectives and Investigators in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $49,360, or $23.73 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 Tennessee is 3.6% 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 $101,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,930 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 Memphis, at $99,680 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 940 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.
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