Private Detective/Investigator
PrintWork Tasks
PRIVATE DETECTIVES/INVESTIGATORS offer many services, including executive, corporate, and celebrity protection; pre-employment verification; and individual background profiles. They assist attorneys, businesses, and the public with a variety of legal, financial, and personal problems. Private detectives provide assistance in civil liability and personal injury cases, insurance claims and fraud, and child custody and protection cases. The duties of private detectives and investigators range from locating missing persons to exposing fraudulent workers' compensation claims. They gather facts, trace debtors, or conduct background investigations. Private detectives and investigators gather as much information as possible to locate assets or individuals.
Salary, Size & Growth
- $45,500 average per year ($22.00 per hour)
- A medium occupation (28,200 workers in 2010)
- Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)
Entry Requirements
There are no formal requirements for most PRIVATE DETECTIVE/INVESTIGATOR jobs, although many private detectives have college degrees. Almost all private detectives and investigators have previous experience in other occupations such as insurance or collections, for companies in the private security industry, or in the military, federal intelligence, or law enforcement jobs. Training in subjects such as criminal justice is helpful. Most corporate investigators must have a bachelor's degree, preferably in a business-related field. The majority of states require that private detectives and investigators be licensed.