Detectives and Criminal Investigators Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,660
- 25th Percentile — Junior$60,730
- 50th Percentile — Median$77,090
- 75th Percentile — Senior$107,810
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$149,280
Half of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Tennessee earn more than $77,090. The top 10% make $149,280 or more, while entry-level workers start around $49,660.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 36th of 51 states for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay, at $87,790 per year (11.7% below the U.S. average of $99,430).
- 1,860 people work as Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Tennessee — 1.6% of all U.S. Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.77: Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs are less concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,660; the top 10% earn over $149,280.
- Hourly equivalent: $42.21 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $148,110.
- Among public safety jobs in Tennessee, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($79,340).
Detectives and Criminal Investigators Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Detectives and Criminal Investigators here earn $87,790 on average, placing the state 36th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $87,790 is roughly equivalent to $99,761 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Ohio ($90,600), Utah ($89,940), North Dakota ($88,310) are the closest alternatives for Detectives and Criminal Investigators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in Tennessee
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $79,340/yr Tennessee 9.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $75,780/yr Tennessee 13.7% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $63,810/yr Tennessee 27.3% vs this role
- Police Officers $61,830/yr Tennessee 29.6% vs this role
- Firefighters $51,590/yr Tennessee 41.2% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $51,420/yr Tennessee 41.4% vs this role
- Security Guards $38,500/yr Tennessee 56.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Tennessee?
The average Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Tennessee is $87,790 per year (median $77,090), which is 11.7% below the national average of $99,430.
How does Tennessee rank for Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay?
Tennessee ranks 36th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($148,110/yr).
How much do entry-level Detectives and Criminal Investigators make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Tennessee earn about $49,660 per year and the 25th percentile is $60,730.
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make per hour in Tennessee?
About $42.21 per hour, based on the $87,790 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Detectives and Criminal Investigators work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 1,860 Detectives and Criminal Investigators jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
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