Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,030 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Memphis earn between $45,670 and $100,050.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $100KMedian
- $100K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,160 | $6,513 | $37.58 |
| Median | $99,680 | $8,307 | $47.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,670 | $3,806 | $21.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,050 | $8,338 | $48.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Memphis earn 22% more than the Tennessee average ($63,810) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is +95% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $78,160 | $99,680 | $37,450 | $101,030 | 310 |
| Tennessee | $63,810 | $49,360 | $33,930 | $101,030 | 940 |
| United States | $60,150 | $51,220 | $36,740 | $97,630 | 35,580 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $78,160, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $63,816 a year, or $5,318 a month and $2,454 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 | $63,816 | $5,318 |
| Working in MS | $61,421 | $5,118 |
| Working in AR | $61,412 | $5,118 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for private detectives and 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 $78,160 buys what about $84,792 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 1st of 3 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
All Private Detectives and Investigators salaries in Tennessee
Highest-paying cities for private detectives and investigators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($78,960).
- San Francisco, CA$78,960
- Salem, OR$78,540
- Memphis, TN$78,160
- Portland, OR$77,440
- Seattle, WA$77,230
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Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Memphis: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Memphis?
$37.58 an hour on average, and $47.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Memphis?
About $63,816 a year ($5,318 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,160. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,150).
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 33-9021; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 2.24, this job is 2.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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