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Private Detectives and Investigators in Tennessee

Thinking about a career as a Private Detectives and Investigators in Tennessee? Here’s what you need to know. Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.

What do Private Detectives and Investigators Make in Tennessee?

For private detectives and investigators working in Tennessee, wages run about $46,560 per year (or about $22.38/hour).Earnings range from $37,150 at the 10th percentile to $105,140 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$37,150	$17.86
25th percentile	$39,310	$18.90
Median (50th)	$46,560	$22.38
75th percentile	$66,250	$31.85
90th percentile	$105,140	$50.55

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Tennessee relative to the national average — is 0.83, meaning fewer private detectives and investigators per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, private detectives and investigators earn a median of $71,252 per year ($34.26/hour), below the Tennessee median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 376,964 private detectives and investigators across the United States. In Tennessee alone, around 690 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 450 private detectives and investigators.

Top Tennessee Metros for Private Detectives and Investigators

The largest metro-area employers of private detectives and investigators in Tennessee.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN	200	$46,610
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	160	$47,790
Knoxville, TN	70	$48,930
Chattanooga, TN-GA	60	$45,920

Top States for Private Detectives and Investigators Employment

These states have the highest employment of private detectives and investigators work.

State	Number Employed
California	5,260
Florida	3,780
Texas	3,440
New York	1,850
Illinois	1,770
Pennsylvania	1,550
North Carolina	1,370
Ohio	1,360
Georgia	1,340
Michigan	980
Arizona	980
Minnesota	940
Virginia	900
Louisiana	890
Washington	840
New Jersey	790
Tennessee	690
South Carolina	650
Colorado	580
Alabama	580

Highest-Paying States for Private Detectives and Investigators

These states pay the most for private detectives and investigators.

State	Annual Median Salary
Oregon	$77,320
Maryland	$74,360
Illinois	$73,070
Minnesota	$72,070
Connecticut	$68,290
Wyoming	$67,360
Vermont	$66,070
Washington	$65,370
Arizona	$64,960
California	$60,210

Skills

Top private detectives and investigators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for private detectives and investigators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Private Detectives and Investigators typically:

• Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
• Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
• Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
• Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
• Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
• Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
• Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
• Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
• Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
• Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions.
• Investigate companies' financial standings, or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.
• Perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Working with Computers
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Analyzing Data or Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Processing Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Facebook In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Related occupations to private detectives and investigators include:

• Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
• Compliance Officers
• Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
• Coroners
• Management Analysts
• Financial Examiners

Also Known As

AML Investigator (Anti Money Laundering Investigator), Alarm Investigator, Asset Protection Detective, BSA Investigator (Bank Secrecy Act Investigator), Background Investigator, Bonding Agent, Case Investigator, Cash Shortage Investigator, Certified Legal Investigator, Contract Investigator, Detective, Detective Investigator, District Agent, Employee Relations Investigator, Field Investigator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 33-9021.00