Career Overview
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Also Known As
- Criminal Investigator
- Detective
- Investigator
- Special Agent
Alternate Job Titles
- Air Marshal
- Burglary Investigator
- Child Support Agent
- Child Support Investigator
- Child Support Officer
- CIA Agent (Central Intelligence Agency Agent)
- City Detective
- Counter Intelligence Agent
- Crime Analyst
- Crime Investigator Special Agent
- Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)
- Criminal Analyst
- Criminal Investigations Agent
- Criminal Investigative Agent
- Criminal Investigator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
- Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
- Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
- Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
- Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
- Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Operate drones for aerial surveillance or to gather evidence from difficult to reach locations.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Administrative
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Stress Tolerance
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Recognition
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Linux
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Word
- SAS
Tools & Equipment
- 35 millimeter cameras
- Audio recording equipment
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Biohazard suits
- Blood collection kits
- Body armor
- Breathalyzers
- Bulletproof vests
- Compound light microscopes
- Crime scene rulers
- Crime scene tape measures
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA collection kits
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Digital tape recorders
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $54,160 |
| Median | $93,580 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $159,410 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 110,790
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Private Detectives and Investigators
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $52,370
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $76,290
Police Identification and Records Officers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $93,580
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $105,980
Intelligence Analysts
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $93,580
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.