Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,060 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Chattanooga earn between $56,710 and $136,120.
- $49K10th
- $57K25th
- $75KMedian
- $136K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,950 | $7,746 | $44.69 |
| Median | $74,600 | $6,217 | $35.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,710 | $4,726 | $27.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,120 | $11,343 | $65.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Chattanooga earn 6% more than the Tennessee average ($87,790) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $92,950 | $74,600 | $48,930 | $158,060 | 140 |
| Tennessee | $87,790 | $77,090 | $49,660 | $149,280 | 1,860 |
| United States | $99,430 | $93,790 | $55,390 | $160,540 | 114,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $92,950, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $74,220 a year, or $6,185 a month and $2,855 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $74,220 | $6,185 |
| Working in GA | $70,331 | $5,861 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $92,950 buys what about $101,625 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 8 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($95,140).
- Knoxville$95,140
- Kingsport$93,860
- Chattanooga$92,950
- Memphis$90,870
- Nashville$89,590
- Jackson$88,910
- Johnson City$85,780
- Clarksville$84,460
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Tennessee
Highest-paying cities for detectives and criminal investigators
Brunswick, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,490).
- Brunswick, GA$148,490
- Washington, DC$146,910
- San Jose, CA$144,580
- Oxnard, CA$138,040
- San Francisco, CA$135,460
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Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Chattanooga?
$44.69 an hour on average, and $35.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $74,220 a year ($6,185 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,950. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($99,430).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-3021; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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