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Detectives and Criminal Investigators

General Information

Description

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

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Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. State and local government66.86%
  2. Federal government28.05%
  3. Private, for profit4.19%
  4. Self-employed0.78%
  5. Private, not for profit0.13%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Job Outlook

Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations. Despitelimitedemployment growth, about 68,500 openings for police and detectives are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Job Outlook

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Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations. Despitelimitedemployment growth, about 68,500 openings for police and detectives are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$83,640

Military salary*

$80,565

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State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$133,930
$47,580
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 32%
  • Associate's degree 19%
  • Post-secondary certificate 19%
  • Some college 17%
  • Bachelor's degree 10%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Psychology
  • English Language

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.