Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,130 | $73,230 | $35.21 | |
| Alaska | 100 | $126,810 | $60.97 | |
| Arizona | 5,370 | $88,140 | $42.38 | |
| Arkansas | 570 | $62,270 | $29.94 | |
| California | 11,510 | $107,650 | $51.75 | |
| Colorado | 1,750 | $93,820 | $45.11 | |
| Connecticut | 910 | $94,730 | $45.54 | |
| Delaware | 100 | $97,670 | $46.96 | |
| District of Columbia | 3,310 | $123,760 | $59.50 | |
| Florida | 6,330 | $81,850 | $39.35 | |
| Georgia | 3,590 | $73,720 | $35.44 | |
| Hawaii | 430 | $111,130 | $53.43 | |
| Idaho | 470 | $74,620 | $35.88 | |
| Illinois | 2,770 | $96,300 | $46.30 | |
| Indiana | 930 | $70,860 | $34.07 | |
| Iowa | 340 | $85,700 | $41.20 | |
| Kansas | 950 | $65,280 | $31.38 | |
| Kentucky | 620 | $77,620 | $37.32 | |
| Louisiana | 1,500 | $68,180 | $32.78 | |
| Maine | 530 | $81,660 | $39.26 | |
| Maryland | 870 | $115,660 | $55.61 | |
| Massachusetts | 1,660 | $100,610 | $48.37 | |
| Michigan | 2,080 | $92,440 | $44.44 | |
| Minnesota | 1,520 | $84,450 | $40.60 | |
| Mississippi | 980 | $59,110 | $28.42 | |
| Missouri | 1,840 | $72,010 | $34.62 | |
| Montana | 480 | $84,380 | $40.57 | |
| Nebraska | 340 | $78,080 | $37.54 | |
| Nevada | 700 | $84,960 | $40.85 | |
| New Hampshire | 360 | $85,020 | $40.88 | |
| New Jersey | 3,790 | $104,670 | $50.32 | |
| New Mexico | 1,930 | $75,250 | $36.18 | |
| New York | 10,190 | $107,990 | $51.92 | |
| North Carolina | 3,110 | $66,030 | $31.75 | |
| North Dakota | 420 | $77,550 | $37.29 | |
| Ohio | 2,150 | $82,830 | $39.82 | |
| Oklahoma | 980 | $70,640 | $33.96 | |
| Oregon | 520 | $98,330 | $47.28 | |
| Pennsylvania | 3,170 | $92,760 | $44.60 | |
| Rhode Island | 340 | $87,610 | $42.12 | |
| South Carolina | 1,230 | $66,830 | $32.13 | |
| South Dakota | 180 | $76,410 | $36.74 | |
| Tennessee | 1,910 | $72,780 | $34.99 | |
| Texas | 16,540 | $82,700 | $39.76 | |
| Utah | 440 | $80,640 | $38.77 | |
| Vermont | 190 | $93,340 | $44.87 | |
| Virginia | 3,270 | $99,390 | $47.78 | |
| Washington | 1,590 | $108,550 | $52.19 | |
| West Virginia | 220 | $87,390 | $42.01 | |
| Wisconsin | 1,540 | $85,210 | $40.96 | |
| Wyoming | 170 | $81,650 | $39.25 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that prepares individuals to enforce natural resource and environmental protection regulations and laws; and to perform emergency duties to protect human life, property and natural resources, including fire prevention and control measures, and emergency and rescue procedures. Includes instruction in natural and physical sciences, natural resource management, outdoor field skills, firearms and outdoor equipment and vehicle operation, evidence collection and environmental sampling and monitoring, natural resource legislation, environmental compliance techniques, patrol procedures, investigation and report writing, interpersonal skills and crisis intervention, community liaison, public safety, public education, and public relations. Note: this program was re-instated after being deleted from CIP 2000; previously, it was coded as 03.0203.
A program that focuses on the theory, technology and operational aspects of collecting, processing and exploiting remote-sensed, radar, acoustic and other forms of signals intelligence. Includes instruction in applied physics, wave propagation and capture, radar systems, acoustics and underwater systems, infrared systems, synthetic aperture systems, collection and processing systems, signal phenomenology, signal analysis and exploitation, and applications to specific intelligence problems.
A program of study that focuses on the general study of criminal justice and corrections. Includes instruction in criminology, criminal justice, correctional science, forensic science, law enforcement, psychology, and ethics.
A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of police and public security officers, including patrol and investigative activities, traffic control, crowd control and public relations, witness interviewing, evidence collection and management, basic crime prevention methods, weapon and equipment operation and maintenance, report preparation and other routine law enforcement responsibilities.
A program focusing on the principles, procedures, techniques, legal concerns, and problems associated with a criminal investigation. Includes instruction in administrative law and procedures, courtroom evidence management and preparation, case presentation and court testimony, description and identification, state and federal criminal law and procedures, informant and suspect rights, officer liability, informant and witness management, victim awareness, tactical interviewing, psychology, criminal investigation methods and procedures, report writing and documentation, investigative techniques, and case management.
A program that focuses on the application of clinical and criminal laboratory science, investigative techniques, and criminology to the reconstruction of crimes and the analysis of physical evidence. Includes instruction in laboratory science, laboratory procedures, criminology and police science, evidentiary testing and analysis, computer applications, record-keeping, reconstruction techniques, evidence handling and storage, and applications to specific types of evidence and crimes.
A program focusing on the principles and techniques used to identify, search, seize and analyze digital media and to conduct cyber investigations against criminal and terrorist activity. Includes instruction in computer boot processes and drives, jumper setting, file access and reconstruction, hacking, network systems, cryptography, programming, investigative techniques, forensic imagery, web-based investigation methods, cyberterrorism, and applicable laws and administrative procedures.
A program focusing on the principles and techniques of conducting investigations into financial crime, terrorist activity, and the analysis and use of accounting data as evidence. Includes instruction in the principles of accounting, investigative auditing, computer investigations, accounting system documents and software, business corruption, criminal and terrorist financial networks, international money markets and movement, net worth analysis, financial fraud, exposing concealed assets, records seizure, fraud and money laundering statutes, fraud case initiation, case management, and case presentation.
A program that prepares individuals to analyze security and intelligence problems using a geographic perspective by relating human actions to cultural, political, economic, social, and physical landscapes. Includes instruction in aerial photography analysis, cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), physical geography, remote sensing, spatial programming, and quantitative methods in geographic research.
A program focusing on the preparation of law enforcement personnel to perform intelligence and surveillance operations and to analyze and use data collected via such operations. Includes instruction in the intelligence cycle, information sources, data retrieval, digital investigation, financial investigations, document analysis, external sources, geographic information systems, link analysis, operation planning and security, case management, applicable law and regulations, and case preparation.
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$90,370 per yearNational average salaryDecliningJob growth rate
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High school diploma or equivalentTypical education requirement
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Less than 5 yearsTypical experience requirement
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Moderate-term on-the-job trainingTypical on-the-job training requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as detectives and criminal investigators.
- Less than high school 0%
- High school graduate 8%
- College dropout 21%
- Associate’s degree 11%
- Bachelor’s degree 42%
- Master’s degree 15%
- Doctorate degree 3%
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