Private Detectives and Investigators
Protective Service
Works on paid cases by searching databases, credit reports, public records, and legal filings to find people or compile facts about character, finances, or personal history. Questions people in matters such as divorce, child custody, missing persons, and suspected fraud, including false insurance claims. Reviews what the records and interviews show, writes case summaries, and may take the stand at hearings or trials. The work leans toward people who prefer desk research, interviews, and assembling a written case rather than uniformed patrol.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$51'220
Median Wage Market Position
$51'220
What you might do
- Search records and databases to find people
- Run background checks for employers and clients
- Question people to gather facts for cases
- Uncover fake insurance claims and stolen funds
- Write case summaries documenting what you found
- Testify in court about your findings
Skills that matter
- Listening closely during interviews
- Writing investigation reports
- Searching records and databases
- Weighing evidence to decide next steps
- Connecting facts to solve cases
- Testifying about evidence in court
AI & the future of this role
Desk research and record searching may be sped up by automated tools, yet interviews, surveillance judgment, and client trust still depend on human investigators. Demand can hold where cases need discreet fieldwork and liability-aware analysis.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details