Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $99,680/year ($47.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $108,136 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 19.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $100K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About private detectives and investigators
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What this looks like in Memphis
Memphis sits well above the national pay line for private detectives and investigators, local pay runs about 95% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,274/month, 19.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Memphis offers a genuinely strong financial position for private detectives and investigatorss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for private detectives and investigators in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $45K | $47K |
| Knoxville | $43K | $47K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $45K | $45K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $73K | $75K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Private Detectives and Investigators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $76K | +49% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $75K | +46% | 400 |
| District of Columbia | $73K | +42% | N/A |
| Vermont | $68K | +33% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | +28% | 280 |
| Washington | $64K | +25% | 750 |
| California | $61K | +20% | 4,190 |
| Arizona | $61K | +19% | 790 |
| Illinois | $60K | +18% | 1,300 |
| New York | $59K | +15% | 1,300 |
| Utah | $58K | +13% | 350 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +13% | 600 |
| Virginia | $56K | +10% | 1,280 |
| Delaware | $56K | +9% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $55K | +7% | 410 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | +7% | 60 |
| Wyoming | $54K | +6% | 40 |
| Alaska | $53K | +4% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $53K | +3% | 1,710 |
| Texas | $52K | +1% | 3,220 |
| Nebraska | $52K | +1% | 160 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +1% | 620 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | -0% | 1,220 |
| Florida | $51K | -1% | 3,660 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | -2% | 280 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -4% | 940 |
| Colorado | $49K | -5% | 540 |
| Michigan | $49K | -5% | 850 |
| Idaho | $48K | -6% | 210 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -7% | 370 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -7% | 350 |
| Montana | $47K | -7% | 70 |
| Ohio | $47K | -8% | 1,560 |
| Alabama | $47K | -9% | 530 |
| West Virginia | $46K | -9% | 170 |
| Hawaii | $46K | -11% | 70 |
| Kansas | $45K | -12% | 280 |
| Georgia | $45K | -12% | 1,460 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -12% | 60 |
| North Dakota | $44K | -13% | 60 |
| Maine | $44K | -14% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $42K | -18% | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $42K | -18% | 410 |
| Indiana | $42K | -18% | 480 |
| Missouri | $42K | -19% | 590 |
| New Mexico | $42K | -19% | N/A |
| Iowa | $41K | -20% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -23% | 370 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -24% | 330 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Memphis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 19.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for private detectives and investigators in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,247/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is private detectives and investigator a high-paying job in Memphis?
Local pay is 95% above the national median — $100K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
Memphis pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +95%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $99,680 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,450, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $101,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,543/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 19.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a private detectives and investigators salary go in Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median private detectives and investigators salary is worth about $108,136 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do private detectives and investigators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.