Careers / Private Detectives and Investigators
Private Detectives and Investigators — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$51,220
United States, 2025
Employment
35,580
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.
- O*NET code
- 33-9021.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Typical tasks
- Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
- Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
- Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
- Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
- Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
- Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
- Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
- Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$36,740
25th percentile
$40,700
75th percentile
$73,990
90th percentile
$97,630
Most important skills
- Active Listening4.1
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Writing3.6
- Social Perceptiveness3.5
- Active Learning3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 13 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
13
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.1 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.6 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.5 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $99,680 | 310 | 2025 |
| Salem, OR | $81,070 | 180 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $78,330 | 270 | 2025 |
| Hartford, CT | $77,540 | 150 | 2025 |
| Waterbury, CT | $76,630 | 50 | 2025 |
| OR | $76,480 | 610 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $75,670 | 430 | 2025 |
| CT | $75,010 | 400 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | $73,430 | 860 | 2025 |
| DC | $72,720 | — | 2025 |
| Manchester, NH | $70,780 | 100 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $70,220 | 410 | 2025 |
| Burlington, VT | $70,190 | 50 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $70,150 | 430 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $68,310 | 970 | 2025 |
| VT | $67,910 | 90 | 2025 |
| NH | $65,370 | 280 | 2025 |
| New Haven, CT | $65,030 | 70 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $64,400 | 610 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $64,080 | 60 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Private Detectives and Investigators to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.