Private Detectives and Investigators: Career Profile
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.
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What Do Private Detectives and Investigators Perform?
The core tasks performed by private detectives and investigators include:
- 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.
What Private Detectives and Investigators Need to Know
Effective private detectives and investigators combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Private Detectives and Investigators Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- 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
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 376,964 private detectives and investigators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Private Detectives and Investigators
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $71,252 |
| Hourly median | $34.26 |
| 10th percentile | $50,818 |
| 25th percentile | $61,035 |
| 75th percentile | $81,469 |
| 90th percentile | $91,685 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Private Detectives and Investigators Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
| New York | $59,840 |
| Massachusetts | $57,840 |
| North Carolina | $55,190 |
| Alaska | $54,080 |
| South Carolina | $53,890 |
| Nebraska | $52,160 |
| New Hampshire | $51,990 |
| Rhode Island | $51,610 |
| New Jersey | $51,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,220 |
| Utah | $51,130 |
| Ohio | $50,060 |
| Colorado | $49,720 |
| Michigan | $49,700 |
| Delaware | $49,400 |
| Maine | $49,360 |
| Florida | $48,880 |
| Virginia | $48,740 |
| Idaho | $48,170 |
| Kentucky | $48,130 |
| Texas | $48,070 |
| Montana | $47,910 |
| Nevada | $47,550 |
| Alabama | $47,180 |
| West Virginia | $46,830 |
| Tennessee | $46,560 |
| North Dakota | $45,710 |
| Indiana | $45,400 |
| Iowa | $45,070 |
| Kansas | $45,020 |
| New Mexico | $44,870 |
| Georgia | $44,590 |
| Hawaii | $44,390 |
| Missouri | $43,780 |
| Louisiana | $43,390 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,360 |
| Arkansas | $43,310 |
| Wisconsin | $43,210 |
| Oklahoma | $40,470 |
| Mississippi | $39,460 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for private detectives and investigators shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $61,020 | 18.4% | 1.11 |
| New England | $58,205 | 3.6% | 0.90 |
| Great Lakes | $56,833 | 13.2% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $56,696 | 12.7% | 0.85 |
| Plains States | $56,309 | 5.3% | 0.91 |
| Southwest | $50,810 | 12.7% | 1.02 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,197 | 3.5% | 0.93 |
| Southeast | $48,210 | 30.1% | 1.28 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $80,060 | 30 |
| Salem, OR | OR | $79,550 | 170 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $79,110 | 230 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $77,680 | 1,320 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $76,730 | 670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $75,400 | 540 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $75,230 | 760 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | NC | $74,720 | 740 |
Industry Breakdown
Most private detectives and investigators are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 14,280 | $42,500 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 8,130 | $52,980 |
| Finance and Insurance | 4,770 | $74,240 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,960 | $78,700 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,580 | $77,770 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 950 | $59,840 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 880 | $82,020 |
| Information | 720 | $72,140 |
Below are examples of industries where private detectives and investigators work:
Tech Stack
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for private detectives and investigators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How to Become Private Detectives and Investigators
Typical private detectives and investigators positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators (Supplemental)
- Compliance Officers (Primary-Long)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Primary-Long)
- Coroners (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Financial Examiners (Supplemental)
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Forensic Science Technicians (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future private detectives and investigators often complete programs in:
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
7 programs across 2 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-9021.00 (Private Detectives and Investigators).
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