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Criminal investigators may work for local or state law enforcement agencies — these are the police detectives that we’re most familiar with, thanks to TV and the movies. But criminal investigators also work for federal government agencies such as the FBI, the Treasury Department, and even the Department of Defense.
Private detectives and investigators work in many environments, depending on the case. Some spend more time in offices, researching cases on computers and making phone calls. Others spend more time in the field, conducting interviews or performing surveillance.
Crime is a constant problem, which means that criminal investigators and other law enforcement officers usually enjoy high levels of job stability. Criminal justice also tends to offer enhanced health and retirement benefits, which makes this career path attractive to many.
Criminal investigators and detectives earn a median annual salary of $83,170, and the top 10% of earners make $109,620 annually. Industry and job level heavily influence salaries. The federal government typically pays the highest rates, requiring the highest levels of experience and education.
The highest-paying area in the country for criminal investigators and detectives was the Alaska, which the BLS reported paid an average yearly salary of $126,340 as of May 2020. Other locations with high average earnings included Maryland ($113,500), Hawaii ($113,150), California ($111,480) and, New Jersey ($106,120).
While the path towards becoming a police detective may vary, generally, after obtaining a high school diploma or GED, it can take anywhere from five to eight years to be promoted from a police officer to a detective.
Being a detective can be exciting, but it also requires hard work, perseverance, and long hours spent following leads and waiting for developments. There are two main types of detectives: police detectives and private detectives. If you want to know if you have what it takes to become a detective, follow these steps.
FBI profilers often train other special agents in behavioral analysis, and their job may involve frequent travel and consultation with other branches of law enforcement.
While criminal investigators commonly wear suits, some may wear plain clothes (i.e., jeans and a t-shirt) when they are on special assignment. Criminal investigators may need to use protective gear, such as jumpers and goggles, when they visit crime scenes with hazardous materials present.
The only way to become a police detective is to work as a police officer, pass a test, and earn promotion to detective through the department. If you want to pursue a career as a detective without going through the police academy and working as an officer first, you can become a private investigator, or PI.
Annual Salary | Weekly Pay | |
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Top Earners | $62,500 | $1,201 |
75th Percentile | $52,000 | $1,000 |
Average | $45,539 | $875 |
25th Percentile | $37,000 | $711 |
The average salary for a detective in the United States is around $83,170 per year.
Drugs. Drug trafficking is the most lucrative form of business for criminals, with an estimated annual value of $320 billion. UNODC says that roughly half of the income from organized crime comes from illicit drugs proceeds, equivalent to between 0.6 percent and 0.9 percent of global GDP.
All FBI agents must hold a bachelor’s degree at minimum, and many possess a master’s degree or higher. FBI agents often earn degrees in fields such as criminal justice or political science, though the Bureau does not maintain any specific academic major requirements for applicants.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators typically receive health and life insurance, vacation, sick leave, holiday pay, and retirement benefits. They may also receive uniform and equipment allowances as well as bilingual and education incentive pay.
The salaries of Fbi Agents in the US range from $15,092 to $404,365 , with a median salary of $73,363 . The middle 57% of Fbi Agents makes between $73,363 and $182,989, with the top 86% making $404,365.
Education | Bachelor’s Degree, Higher degrees could advance your forensic career |
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Recommended Fields | Criminal Justice, Computer Science, Forensic Science, or Biology |
Preferred Experience | Law Enforcement |
George W. McClusky | |
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Born | 1861 New York City, United States |
Died | December 17, 1912 (aged 51) Manhattan, New York, US |
Resting place | Calvary Cemetery |
Nationality | Irish-American |
It can take you as long as 5-6 years to become an FBI agent. After high school, you will need to spend 4 years in college to earn a bachelor’s degree. Apart from this, you will spend an additional 6-12 months applying and training for the position.
Agency overview | |
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Website | www.cia.gov |
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