Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Also called: Burglary Investigator, City Detective, Counter Intelligence Agent, Crime Analyst, Crime Investigator Special Agent, Criminal Analyst
Median pay
$93,790
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$55,390 – $160,540
People employed
114,430
Holland code
ICR
Investigative · Conventional · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 4.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 5.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 6.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 7.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 8.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
The hard parts
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Work outdoors in all weather
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in every state →
What detectives and criminal investigators do
- 01Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
- 02Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
- 03Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
- 04Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
- 05Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- 06Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from detectives and criminal investigators
- Coroners83% · group pay
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives81% · +13%
- Compliance Officers75% · −14%
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts73% · group pay
- Air Traffic Controllers71% · +58%
Change into detectives and criminal investigators
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Coroners88% · $80,730
- Private Detectives and Investigators88% · $51,220
- Forensic Science Technicians81% · $72,060
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts81% · $81,100
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists79% · $42,540
Majors that lead here
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
- Signal/Geospatial Intelligence
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- Criminal Justice/Police Science
- Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management
- Suspension and Debarment Investigation
- Maritime Law Enforcement
- Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection
- Criminalistics and Criminal Science
- Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism
- Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.