Private Detectives and Investigators
Private detectives and investigators gather, analyze, and report information to clients regarding legal or personal matters.
Is private detectives and investigators a good career?
It scores 18/100 and ranks #374 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($51,220 vs $61,390)
- Often needs prior experience (less than 5 years)
What private detectives and investigators earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. private detectives and investigators earn between $40,700 and $73,990 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live private detectives and investigators jobs
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- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow faster than average through 2034.
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.
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 & 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.
Related occupations
How much do private detectives and investigators make?
The national median wage is $51,220 a year, with the middle half earning between $40,700 and $73,990 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is private detectives and investigators a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 18 of 100 and ranks #374 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +6.0% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a private detectives and investigator?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent, usually with less than 5 years.
Where do private detectives and investigators earn the most?
Among states, Oregon pays the highest median ($76,480). Local pay for every state and metro is below.