Jobs Similar to Detectives and Criminal Investigators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to detectives and criminal investigators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Customs and Border Protection Officers, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers and Coroners.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators: $93,790 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Detectives and Criminal Investigators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customs and Border Protection OfficersSame group | 80% | $76,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersSame group | 80% | $76,210−19% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Coroners | 78% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 4 | Compliance Officers | 78% | $80,730−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Animal Control Workers | 78% | $45,660−51% | High school |
| 6 | Private Detectives and Investigators | 78% | $51,220−45% | Training or associate |
| 7 | BailiffsSame group | 77% | $56,600−40% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Transit and Railroad PoliceSame group | 77% | $90,230−4% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | 77% | $42,540Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 10 | Police Identification and Records OfficersSame group | 76% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 11 | Public Safety Telecommunicators | 76% | $53,040−43% | High school |
| 12 | Intelligence AnalystsSame group | 75% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Loss Prevention Managers | 74% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Security Guards | 74% | $38,020−59% | High school |
| 15 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 74% | $106,040+13% | High school |
| 16 | Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts | 74% | $81,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Correctional Officers and JailersSame group | 73% | $58,940−37% | High school |
| 18 | Compliance Managers | 73% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Emergency Management Directors | 73% | $93,3300% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 73% | $75,920−19% | Training or associate |
- 1Customs and Border Protection Officers
80% similar · $76,210 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
80% similar · $76,210 (−19%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Coroners
78% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 4Compliance Officers
78% similar · $80,730 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Animal Control Workers
78% similar · $45,660 (−51%) · High school
- 6Private Detectives and Investigators
78% similar · $51,220 (−45%) · Training or associate
- 7Bailiffs
77% similar · $56,600 (−40%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 8Transit and Railroad Police
77% similar · $90,230 (−4%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
77% similar · $42,540 (broader group) · High school
- 10Police Identification and Records Officers
76% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 11Public Safety Telecommunicators
76% similar · $53,040 (−43%) · High school
- 12Intelligence Analysts
75% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Loss Prevention Managers
74% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Security Guards
74% similar · $38,020 (−59%) · High school
- 15First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
74% similar · $106,040 (+13%) · High school
- 16Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
74% similar · $81,100 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Correctional Officers and Jailers
73% similar · $58,940 (−37%) · High school · Same group
- 18Compliance Managers
73% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Emergency Management Directors
73% similar · $93,330 (0%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Fire Inspectors and Investigators
73% similar · $75,920 (−19%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than detectives and criminal investigators.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Animal Control Workers78% similar · High school
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists77% similar · High school
- Public Safety Telecommunicators76% similar · High school
- Security Guards74% similar · High school
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives74% similar · High school
- Correctional Officers and Jailers73% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for detectives and criminal investigators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where detectives and criminal investigators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Coroners (88)
- Private Detectives and Investigators (88)
- Forensic Science Technicians (81)
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts (81)
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists (79)
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (78)
- Animal Control Workers (77)
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (76)
- Compliance Officers (75)
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators (73)
Questions about jobs like detectives and criminal investigators
What jobs are most similar to detectives and criminal investigators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Customs and Border Protection Officers (80% similar), Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (80% similar), Coroners (78% similar), Compliance Officers (78% similar) and Animal Control Workers (78% similar).
Which jobs like detectives and criminal investigators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives ($106,040, +13%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with detectives and criminal investigators ($93,790). Without more preparation than detectives and criminal investigators usually need: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.