The average salary for a private detective in Tennessee is around $49,810 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $49,810.
Wages typically start from $28,430 and go up to $98,070.
7% below national average Updated in 2021
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$47.15 per hour
$98,070 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$36.83 per hour
$76,600 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$23.95 per hour
$49,810 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$18.55 per hour
$38,590 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$13.67 per hour
$28,430 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Private detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Arkansas | $80,880 |
| Nevada | $78,480 |
| Colorado | $78,420 |
| Missouri | $77,030 |
| Oregon | $76,920 |
| Nebraska | $76,610 |
| Illinois | $72,840 |
| North Carolina | $69,520 |
| Virginia | $66,200 |
| Minnesota | $65,870 |
| New Hampshire | $64,700 |
| Washington | $64,700 |
| Connecticut | $64,360 |
| Montana | $63,840 |
| Alabama | $63,590 |
| District of Columbia | $63,170 |
| Rhode Island | $63,090 |
| Massachusetts | $63,050 |
| California | $63,010 |
| Alaska | $62,130 |
| New York | $61,590 |
| New Mexico | $61,310 |
| South Dakota | $60,460 |
| Hawaii | $59,610 |
| Florida | $58,200 |
| Maine | $55,670 |
| Iowa | $53,050 |
| Texas | $52,540 |
| Kansas | $52,390 |
| Maryland | $51,060 |
| Arizona | $50,710 |
| Michigan | $50,550 |
| Georgia | $50,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,530 |
| Tennessee | $49,810 |
| Utah | $49,650 |
| Idaho | $49,260 |
| Ohio | $48,770 |
| Louisiana | $48,320 |
| South Carolina | $47,960 |
| West Virginia | $47,960 |
| Wisconsin | $47,600 |
| Indiana | $47,040 |
| Kentucky | $45,330 |
| Delaware | $44,550 |
| New Jersey | $42,210 |
| Oklahoma | $39,550 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,090 |
| Mississippi | $31,820 |
How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Private detectives earn about the same as related careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than fish and game wardens but more than paralegals.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fish and game warden salary | $68K |
| Judicial law clerk salary | $64K |
| Arbitrator salary | $58K |
| Coroner salary | $59K |
| Fire inspector salary | $61K |
| Private detective salary | $50K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $51K |
| Postal service worker salary | $53K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $53K |
| Paralegal salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)