Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Tennessee is $49,360/year ($23.73/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $54,979 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 34.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Tennessee?
About private detectives and investigators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Private detectives and investigators pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary by metro in Tennessee
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $100K | +102% | 310 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $45K | -9% | 210 |
| Knoxville | $43K | -13% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 35% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for private detectives and investigators in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,036/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
Tennessee pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Tennessee?
The median is $49,360 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,930, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $101,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,475/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 35% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a private detectives and investigators salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $54,979 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.