Private Detectives and Investigators pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,820 or more. The middle half of private detectives and investigators in Nashville earn between $39,040 and $81,580.
- $34K10th
- $39K25th
- $45KMedian
- $82K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,630 | $4,886 | $28.19 |
| Median | $44,890 | $3,741 | $21.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,040 | $3,253 | $18.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,580 | $6,798 | $39.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Private Detectives and Investigators pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Private detectives and investigators in Nashville earn 8% less than the Tennessee average ($63,810) and about the same as the U.S. average ($60,150). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $51,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $58,630 | $44,890 | $33,930 | $102,820 | 210 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $58,630, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $49,289 a year, or $4,107 a month and $1,896 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for private detectives and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $58,630 buys what about $60,859 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 2nd of 3 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($78,160).
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Nashville: questions
How much do private detectives and investigators make an hour in Nashville?
$28.19 an hour on average, and $21.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level private detectives and investigators salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the private detectives and investigators take-home pay in Nashville?
About $49,289 a year ($4,107 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,630. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do private detectives and investigators earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.