MENU

Private Detectives and Investigators

General Information

Description

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.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit53.09%
  2. State and local government19.78%
  3. Federal government13.33%
  4. Self-employed10.48%
  5. Private, not for profit3.22%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Job Outlook

Employment of private detectives and investigators is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 3,700 openings for private detectives and investigators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Read More

Job Outlook

×

Employment of private detectives and investigators is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 3,700 openings for private detectives and investigators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Similar Careers

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$59,380

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$80,880
$31,820
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 37%
  • High school 25%
  • Associate's degree 16%
  • Some college 12%
  • Post baccalaureate 4%
  • Post-secondary certificate 4%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Administrative
  • Law and Government
  • Computers and Electronics

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.