### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Private Detectives and Investigators Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			private detectives and investigators imagePrivate detectives and investigators obtain information for clients.							
						Quick Facts:     Private Detectives and Investigators2023     Median Pay
            						$49,540     per year
										$23.82     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    Less than 5 yearsOn-the-job Training
                                    Moderate-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    38,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    6% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    2,300What Private Detectives and Investigators Do
                                                
                        
                        
Private detectives and investigators gather, analyze, and report information to clients regarding legal or personal matters.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Private detectives’ and investigators’ work settings may depend on their assignment or case. For example, they may spend time in offices to research cases, or they may work in the field while doing surveillance. Most work full time, and schedules may vary to include early mornings, nights, and weekends.
            
                                                How to Become a Private Detective or Investigator
                                                
                        
Private detectives and investigators typically need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent and several years of related work experience. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree. Most states require private detectives and investigators to be licensed.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for private detectives and investigators was $49,540 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of private detectives and investigators is projected to grow							 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 3,800 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for private detectives and investigators.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of private detectives and investigators with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about private detectives and investigators by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Private Detectives and Investigators Do 
            

			Private detectives and investigatorsPrivate detectives and investigators must properly collect and document evidence so that it may be used in a court of law.			
Private detectives and investigators gather, analyze, and report information to clients regarding legal or personal matters. Their services include verifying people’s backgrounds, finding missing persons, and investigating crimes.
Duties
Private detectives and investigators typically do the following:
Interview people to gather information
Search online, public, and court records for civil judgments, criminal history, and other evidence
Conduct surveillance
Write reports detailing investigation activities, observations, and findings
Share results of investigation findings with clientsPrivate detectives and investigators offer many services for individuals, attorneys, and businesses. For example, they may perform background checks, investigate employees suspected of workplace theft, and prove or disprove infidelity in a divorce case. Some private detectives and investigators specialize in a type of investigation, such as missing persons.
When conducting research, private detectives and investigators obtain and analyze information such as telephone numbers, social networks, online activities, and court records. They may interview others to verify facts they discover.
Private detectives and investigators also conduct surveillance when working on a case. They may keep watch through binoculars or take photographs, often from a hidden position, to gather information on people of interest.
Private detectives and investigators must obey the law when conducting investigations. Because they lack police authority, they are held to the same standards of conduct as private citizens. As a result, these workers must have a thorough understanding of federal, state, and local laws, such as privacy laws, that may affect their work. Lawful collection of evidence ensures its usability in court and protects detectives and investigators from prosecution.
***Skip tracers*** specialize in locating people whose whereabouts are unknown. For example, debt collectors may employ skip tracers to locate people who have unpaid bills.
***Store detectives***, or *loss prevention associates,*typically work undercover to identify and prevent shoplifting or theft. These plainclothes detectives may pretend to be customers as they walk through the store observing other shoppers.
Private detectives and investigators have duties that may be similar to those of workers in other occupations. For example, insurance investigators evaluate claims in which an insurance company suspects fraudulent or criminal activity. Detectives and criminal investigators gather evidence related to illegal activity. Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators monitor casino operations for suspicious activity and ensure compliance with the law.
 Work Environment
			Private detectives and investigatorsMany private detectives and investigators spend time away from their desks while conducting surveillance in the field.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Private detectives and investigators held about 38,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of private detectives and investigators were as follows:
        Administrative and support services
                22%Retail trade
                17Professional, scientific, and technical services
                14Government
                10Finance and insurance
                9Private detectives’ and investigators’ work settings may depend on their assignment or case. For example, some spend time in offices to research cases, or they work in the field while doing surveillance. Others may work in stores to observe customers.
In addition, private detectives and investigators may work outdoors or from a vehicle, in all kinds of weather, in order to obtain information.
Although they often work alone, some private detectives and investigators work with others while conducting surveillance or carrying out large, complex assignments.
Work Schedules
Most private detectives and investigators work full time. Their schedules may vary to include early mornings, nights, and weekends, especially when they conduct surveillance or contact people outside of normal business hours.
 How to Become a Private Detective or Investigator

			Private detectives and investigatorsAlthough most learn on the job, many private detectives and investigators have a law enforcement background.			
Private detectives and investigators typically need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent and several years of work experience in a related occupation. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a college degree. Most states require private detectives and investigators to be licensed.
Education
Education requirements vary. Some employers require a high school diploma or the equivalent, while others require a bachelor’s degree. Fields of study may include those that are closely related, such as security and protective service, or those that have wide applicability, such as business.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Private detectives and investigators typically need related work experience. Examples include having worked in law enforcement, the military, or federal intelligence. Some private detectives and investigators enter the occupation after gaining experience in public sector jobs.
Other private detectives and investigators may have worked in occupations such as bill and account collectors, claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators; paralegals; or security guards.
Training
Private detectives and investigators often learn through on-the-job training, which may last several months or longer.
Although private detectives and investigators learn how to gather information, additional training often depends on the position for which they are hired. For example, some learn to conduct remote surveillance, reconstruct accident scenes, or investigate fraud. Corporate investigators may receive formal training in business practices, management structure, and finance-related topics.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Most states require private detectives and investigators to be licensed. Check with your state and locality for information about age, experience, and other requirements for licensing. Depending on the position, private detectives and investigators may need a driver’s license.
Some workers opt to earn professional certification, which demonstrates competence in a particular area of investigation work.
Important Qualities
***Attention to detail.***Private detectives and investigators must stay alert and be precise in noting information related to their investigations.
***Communication skills.*** Private detectives and investigators must listen carefully and ask appropriate questions when interviewing a person of interest. They also must write reports that clearly and comprehensively document activities and conclusions of their investigations.
***Decision-making skills.*** Private detectives and investigators must be able to think clearly and evaluate situations quickly, often based on limited information that they have at a given time.
***Inquisitiveness.*** Private detectives and investigators must be tenacious in asking questions and searching for the truth. They must be persistent in pursuing leads and sometimes must anticipate what a person of interest will do next.
***Patience.*** Private detectives and investigators may spend long periods conducting surveillance while waiting for an event to occur. Investigations may be time consuming and may not provide a resolution quickly—or at all.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Private detectives and investigators must be methodical in their approach to overcoming obstacles while solving challenging cases.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Private Detectives and InvestigatorsMedian annual wages, May 2023Private detectives and investigators$49,540  Total, all occupations$48,060  Other protective service workers$36,920Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for private detectives and investigators was $49,540 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,060, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,600.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for private detectives and investigators in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Professional, scientific, and technical services
                $69,820Finance and insurance
                68,130Government
                68,040Administrative and support services
                48,650Retail trade
                40,880Wage data do not cover self-employed workers or owners and partners of unincorporated businesses.
Most private detectives and investigators work full time. Their schedules may vary to include early mornings, nights, and weekends, especially when they conduct surveillance or contact people outside of normal business hours.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Private Detectives and InvestigatorsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Private detectives and investigators6%  Total, all occupations3%  Other protective service workers0%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of private detectives and investigators is projected to grow				 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 3,800 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.
			Employment
	
			
Continued lawsuits, fraud and other crimes, and interpersonal mistrust are expected to create demand for investigative services. In addition, background checks will continue to be a source of work for some investigators, as online investigations are not always sufficient.
			

                        Employment projections data for     private detectives and investigators, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Private detectives and investigators**
			33-9021
			38,300
			40,600
			6
			2,300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Private detectives and investigators **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of private detectives and investigators. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Accountants and Auditors**
            Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records.
            Bachelor's degree
            $79,880**Bill and Account Collectors**
            Bill and account collectors try to recover payment on overdue bills.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $44,250**Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators**
            Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims.
            See How to Become One
            $75,020**Financial Examiners**
            Financial examiners ensure compliance with laws that govern institutions handling monetary transactions.
            Bachelor's degree
            $84,300**Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers**
            Security guards and gambling surveillance officers protect property from illegal activity.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $37,090**Paralegals and Legal Assistants**
            Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers.
            Associate's degree
            $60,970**Fire Inspectors**
            Fire inspectors detect fire hazards, recommend prevention measures, ensure compliance with state and local fire regulations, and investigate causes of fires.
            See How to Become One
            $71,420**Police and Detectives**
            Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes.
            See How to Become One
            $74,910**Forensic Science Technicians**
            Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence.
            Bachelor's degree
            $64,940
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about private detectives and investigators, including information on certification, visit
Association of Certified Background Investigators
National Association of Legal Investigators
For more information about licensing requirements, contact your state licensing agency.

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Private Detectives and Investigators
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Private Detectives and Investigators, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/private-detectives-and-investigators.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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