Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,280 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Memphis earn between $61,210 and $119,430.
- $52K10th
- $61K25th
- $79KMedian
- $119K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $90,870 | $7,572 | $43.69 |
| Median | $78,920 | $6,577 | $37.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,210 | $5,101 | $29.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,430 | $9,952 | $57.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Memphis earn 4% more than the Tennessee average ($87,790) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $90,870 | $78,920 | $51,900 | $149,280 | 280 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $90,870, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $72,757 a year, or $6,063 a month and $2,798 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $72,757 | $6,063 |
| Working in AR | $69,882 | $5,824 |
| Working in MS | $69,854 | $5,821 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $90,870 buys what about $98,580 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th 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 Memphis: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Memphis?
$43.69 an hour on average, and $37.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Memphis?
About $72,757 a year ($6,063 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $90,870. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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