Protective Service
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
MAY 2025 · OCCUPATIONAL WAGES
A wage reference for United States.
Published wage percentiles describe a distribution within the source occupation group. They provide context for a career decision; employer packages and job offers have their own terms.
Source wage group: Detectives and Criminal Investigators
This wage group may include multiple detailed occupations. The figures are for the source group, which may be broader than Detectives and Criminal Investigators. They are not an exact-title, employer, experience or seniority match.
May 2025 · USD · United States. Annual and hourly figures are shown only when the source publishes them; neither is calculated from the other.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data, distributed through the O*NET® OnLine service.
Median annual wage$93,790USD per year · Published 50th percentile
Median hourly wage$45.09USD per hour · Published 50th percentile
Annual wage thresholds
USD per year
Hourly wage thresholds
USD per hour
| Percentile | Annual wage (USD/year) | Hourly wage (USD/hour) |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,390 | $26.63 |
| 25th | $69,330 | $33.33 |
| 50th · Median | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| 75th | $120,520 | $57.94 |
| 90th | $160,540 | $77.18 |
“≥” means at least the published amount; “≤” means at most that amount. These are bounds, not exact values. “Not published” means the source did not provide that figure. Occupational wages follow the source definition and do not establish an employer’s base salary, equity or total compensation.
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THE WORK BEHIND THE TITLE
What this career involves.
Occupation definitions describe common work. Responsibilities and requirements vary by employer and specific job.
Selected title examples
Burglary InvestigatorCity DetectiveCounter Intelligence AgentCrime AnalystCrime Investigator Special AgentCriminal AnalystCriminal Investigations AgentCriminal Investigative AgentCriminal InvestigatorCriminal Investigator Special AgentCriminal ProfilerCriminalist
Expand more title examples (44)
CSI (Crime Scene Investigator)Cyber Special AgentCybercrimes InvestigatorDetectiveEnforcement AgentField AgentFinancial Crimes AnalystFinancial Crimes InvestigatorFraud InvestigatorFugitive DetectiveFugitive InvestigatorGang InvestigatorHomicide DetectiveHomicide InvestigatorIdentification OfficerIntelligence OfficerInternal Affairs InvestigatorInvestigation OfficerInvestigative AnalystInvestigative SpecialistInvestigatorLaw Enforcement InvestigatorLaw Enforcement SpecialistMajor Case DetectiveMissing Persons InvestigatorNarcotics AgentNarcotics DetectiveNarcotics InvestigatorPolice DetectivePolice InvestigatorProfilerSecret Service AgentSex Crimes DetectiveSharpshooterSheriff DetectiveSIU Investigator (Special Investigation Unit Investigator)Special AgentSpecial Crimes InvestigatorSpecial InvestigatorSpyStation DetectiveVice DetectiveVice InvestigatorViolent Crimes Detective
Typical tasks
- Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
- Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
- Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
- Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
- Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
Expand more tasks (24)
- Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
- Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
- Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.
- Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.
- Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary.
- Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.
- Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information.
- Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants.
- Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.
- Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.
- Secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive.
- Participate or assist in raids and arrests.
- Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.
- Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.
- Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities.
- Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
- Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
- Provide information to lab personnel concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.
- Summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical personnel to take statements from them.
- Block or rope off scene and check perimeter to ensure that entire scene is secured.
- Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
- Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects.
- Notify command of situation and request assistance.
- Perform undercover assignments and maintain surveillance, including monitoring authorized wiretaps.
Skills used in this work
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Expand more skills (29)
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Negotiation
- Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Management of Material Resources
- Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Management of Financial Resources
- Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Programming
- Writing computer programs for various purposes.
- Technology Design
- Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
- Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
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