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Role hub · Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Detective: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

Maid DizdarevicCareer coach · 8x LinkedIn Top Voice
Updated Oct 24, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
Pay ladder · select a percentile
Median percentile pay

Half of detectives earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$93,790
Hourly
$45.09
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Detectives conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes. The median pay is $93,790 a year ($45.09 an hour) (BLS, May 2025).

Median pay
$93,790
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
114,430
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 3 of 5
medium preparation

Data Government data groups this job as Detectives and Criminal Investigators (O*NET-SOC 33-3021.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

Explore the role

Every page for Detectives

SalaryDetective salary

Pay by percentile, state and metro, with a negotiation script.

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Parsed text, evidence per bullet, fixes first.

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The work

What detectives do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
  2. Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
  3. Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
  4. Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
  5. Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
  6. Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
  7. Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
  8. Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

Active ListeningcoreSpeakingcoreSocial PerceptivenesscoreCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingWritingActive Learning

Knowledge areas: Law and Government, Public Safety and Security, Customer and Personal Service, Psychology, English Language, Education and Training.

Tools and technology

Software detectives use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • Adobe PhotoshopGraphics or photo imaging softwareHot technology
  • Microsoft VisioProcess mapping and design softwareHot technology
  • SASAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
  • AccessData FTKNetwork monitoring software
  • Computer aided composite drawing softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Crime mapping softwareMap creation software
  • DeChant Consulting Services iWitnessGraphics or photo imaging software
  • DesignWare 3D EyeWitnessGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Digital Image Management Solutions Crime SceneGraphics or photo imaging software
  • ESRI ArcViewGeographic information system
  • Eos Systems PhotoModelerGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system

Also called: Criminal Investigator, CSI (Crime Scene Investigator), Fugitive Detective, Fugitive Investigator, Investigator.

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the correlation between the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level, subtract the average across all occupations, and correlate the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 or below means unrelated. Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).