The average salary for a private detective in Tennessee is around $49,360 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $49,360.
Wages typically start from $33,930 and go up to $101,030.
2% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$48.57 per hour
$101,030 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$47.68 per hour
$99,170 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$23.73 per hour
$49,360 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$18.52 per hour
$38,520 per year
10th percentile
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$16.31 per hour
$33,930 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Private detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $78,480 |
| Oregon | $76,480 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 |
| Vermont | $67,910 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 |
| Washington | $64,080 |
| California | $61,250 |
| Arizona | $61,030 |
| Illinois | $60,210 |
| New York | $59,140 |
| Utah | $57,910 |
| Minnesota | $57,880 |
| Virginia | $56,160 |
| Delaware | $55,710 |
| New Jersey | $54,710 |
| Rhode Island | $54,620 |
| Wyoming | $54,310 |
| Alaska | $53,440 |
| North Carolina | $52,890 |
| Texas | $51,810 |
| Nebraska | $51,750 |
| South Carolina | $51,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,200 |
| Maryland | $51,060 |
| Florida | $50,640 |
| Massachusetts | $50,240 |
| Tennessee | $49,360 |
| Colorado | $48,730 |
| Michigan | $48,650 |
| Idaho | $47,910 |
| Arkansas | $47,750 |
| Kentucky | $47,650 |
| Montana | $47,430 |
| Ohio | $47,200 |
| Alabama | $46,810 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 |
| Hawaii | $45,750 |
| Kansas | $45,260 |
| Georgia | $45,060 |
| South Dakota | $44,840 |
| North Dakota | $44,310 |
| Maine | $43,830 |
| Louisiana | $41,950 |
| Wisconsin | $41,850 |
| Indiana | $41,830 |
| Missouri | $41,600 |
| New Mexico | $41,600 |
| Iowa | $41,110 |
| Oklahoma | $39,680 |
| Mississippi | $39,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,090 |
How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Private detectives earn 6% less than similar careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than fish and game wardens but more than sheriffs.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fish and game warden salary | $76K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $70K |
| Coroner salary | $64K |
| Arbitrator salary | $62K |
| Fire inspector salary | $63K |
| Private detective salary | $49K |
| Social worker salary | $51K |
| Postal service worker salary | $63K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $63K |
| Sheriff salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)