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Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they do

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $93,790 Median per year · $45.09/hr Most earn $55,390–$160,540

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
  • Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
  • Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
  • Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.
  • Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.
  • Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 7,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals41.4%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service36.6%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals21.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Detective work is not usually an entry-level job. Most people first work for 1 to 2 years in a related role, often as a patrol officer, before moving into investigations. Starting from high school, the full path usually takes several years.

  1. High school diploma or GED

    4 years

    Finishing school with strong writing, reading, and math skills gives you the base for police training and investigative reports.

  2. Police Officer (police academy certificate, then patrol work)

    1-2 years

    Complete police academy training, then work patrol to learn law, evidence handling, witness interviews, and how real cases unfold.

  3. Detective and Criminal Investigator

    Entry after 1-2 years of prior experience

    Investigate suspected crimes by gathering evidence, interviewing people, and building cases for prosecutors.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Detective

    Several years as a detective of experience first

    You take on more complex or serious cases and may train newer investigators.

  2. Sergeant or First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives

    Several years as a detective or officer of experience first

    You lead a team of officers or detectives, assign cases, and review their work, which needs strong leadership and communication skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English, writing, and speech classesStrong writing and speaking help you explain facts clearly in reports and in court.
  • Take civics, government, or psychologyThese classes teach how the justice system works and how people think and behave, which helps with interviewing and understanding evidence.
  • Join debate, mock trial, or student governmentThese activities build quick thinking, listening, and the ability to make a clear case.
  • Volunteer in your communityVolunteering at a food bank, youth program, or local safety event shows responsibility and helps you practice working with different people.
  • Get a part-time job that involves customer serviceJobs where you talk with the public teach patience, reading people, and staying calm under pressure.

In college

  • Major in criminal justice, psychology, or sociologyThese majors cover crime, human behavior, and the justice system, which are useful background for investigators.
  • Take writing-heavy and statistics coursesReport writing and understanding data are everyday skills for detectives.
  • Look for an internship with a police department, court, or legal officeHands-on experience shows you how investigations work and can strengthen later job applications.
  • Take a campus or part-time job in security, records, or campus safetyThese roles build experience with rules, documentation, and working with law enforcement or security teams.
  • Get first aid and CPR certificationMany police agencies value these basic emergency skills, and they are often inexpensive and easy to find through local groups.

Tips for getting started

  • Check the exact requirements for the agency you want to join, such as minimum age, clean record, fitness tests, and education. These vary by city, county, and state.
  • Practice clear report writing now. Investigators spend a lot of time documenting facts, so strong writing matters as much as courage in the field.
  • Talk with a local officer or detective, or ask a school counselor to set up a short informational interview. Their firsthand advice can show you what the job is really like.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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