Private Detectives and Investigators

What the job really is

Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.

At a glance

• Sector: Protective Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 33-9021
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
• Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
• Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
• Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
• Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
• Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
• Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
• Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
• Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
• Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions.
• Investigate companies' financial standings, or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.
• Perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.

Tools and technology

Facebook, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, 35 millimeter cameras, Biological evidence collection kits, Compact digital cameras, Computer data input scanners

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Detectives and Criminal Investigators
• Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
• Intelligence Analysts
• Police Identification and Records Officers
• Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
• Compliance Officers
• Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Private Detectives and Investigators — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.