Detectives & Private Investigators
Comprehensive Sites
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Police and DetectivesCreated by the U.S. Department of Labor, this career profile introduces you to the training, work qualifications, employment data, and job outlook for detectives, including advancement and salaries. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find links to important professional organizations in the field, or click on detailed earnings data and learn more about this career in law enforcement or investigation.
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Private Detective & InvestigatorThe duties of private investigators are outlined at this site, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Different types of investigators and detectives are described, including forensic investigators, legal investigators, financial investigators, and detectives of many types. In addition to job overviews, you can jump to information on training and advancement qualifications, prospects for employment, earnings, and important sources of additional information if you are thinking about this field.
Princeton Review: Detective/Private InvestigatorLog in to this site to find out about a day in the life of a detective or private investigator, as well as links to information on facts and figures about the career, majors that might be useful in advancing your position, and what you can expect to earn in the field as a person just starting out and after several years. Links at the left of the page will take you to further information on salary, job outlook, and training information.
Accredited Academic Programs
Princeton Review: College Majors, Police OfficerSeveral college majors may be appropriate as precursors to a career as a police officer. After completing your registration and log in, find a list of them at this site. Just click on your selections, and be taken to contact information and websites for schools and programs you are interested in, including those in criminal justice, criminology, and forensic psychology.
Salary Levels
PayScale: Private Detective or InvestigatorThe median hourly rate by years of experience as a private detective or investigator is shown at the graph at this site. If you scroll down, you will find median salary by employer city or state, or find links to related information on salary by education, gender, and other categories.
Professional Organizations
Federal Bureau of InvestigationsThe Federal Bureau of Investigation has an FBI headquarters website that you can access here, as well as separate sites for New York, Little Rock, and Louisville. Find quick facts about this law enforcement organization, what they investigate, the national security branch, training of officers, and a job application site.
National Association of Investigative SpecialistsFirst, you will see a variety of investigation tools and stealth tracking devices at this page. In fact, everything you might need to assist in professional investigative activities is found here. You can also join online forums for discussion, learn about equipment, and locate a wide range of aids and resources for investigative specialists.
National Association of Legal InvestigatorsNALI online provides an official journal of its organization that covers the entire investigative field. Other activities of this organization include conferences for private and licensed investigators and news dissemination. Access the certification link to learn about the NALI certified legal investigator program credential.
U.S. Secret ServiceDiscover what the role of the Secret Service agent is all about, opportunities for employment, current vacancies, and career fairs across the U.S. You can also click on the links at the right to find out more about the different types of investigations Secret Service personnel perform, their protective missions, and a student question and answer forum. For fun, access information on the most wanted fugitives followed by the Secret Service.
United States Marshals OfficeClick on the fact sheets here to learn about the different services that U.S. Marshals perform, including judicial security, operations support, fugitive control, and witness security. This is the nation’s main fugitive-finding department, and you can see photos and a slide show of everyday duties here. The career opportunities link connects you to local district contacts and a background questionnaire, so you can see if this could be a career for you.
Job Opportunity Sources
Indeed.com: Private InvestigatorMore than 1,000 positions around the U.S. are collected at this database, which actually hosts numerous other job repositories. Listings are also collected from private employers.
Licensing & Certification
Private Investigator Licensing Requirements by StateAs the name of this site implies, you can access the licensing requirements for a private investigator at your selection of U.S. states. States with an asterisk by them do not have any licensure requirements. However, most do, so come and check out what is needed educationally and certification-wise in the area you might want to work in. Guidelines are taken from various state and police web sites and include laws and regulations about applications, uniforms, and other requirements.
State Licensing AgenciesProvided by the National Council of Investigation & Security Services, this list includes contact information and web sites, where they are available, to licensing details for private investigators and P.I. services.
Publications
National Council of Investigation and Security Services ReportA copy of a quarterly publication can be accessed from this page, known as a national voice for security and private investigation professionals. Sample pages of legislative news and other departments are available.
Professional Investigator MagazineYou can sign up at this page to receive the free PI newsletter, or learn more about what the professional’s magazine has to offer. You can access feature articles here, learn about licensing, and browse the current tissue. The site also includes a selection of back issues, featured surveillance equipment and spy gadgets, news, and new investigation resources and book links.
Career Videos
ISeek: Detective and InvestigatorsWatch a video about the work of detectives and investigators and their roles in state and local government. You will also hear how detectives interview witnesses, review, and analyze the information they collect, as well as how they work in conjunction with other departments of law enforcement. Click on the links at the top of the page to find details on work activities, skills, career preparation, wages, and jobs.
YouTube: Private Detectives and Investigators Job DescriptionHear about private investigators and the research work that they usually perform, including private inquiries, special work for agencies and risk management companies, the investigation of theft and fraud, and the importance of computer use. You will also hear about the skills needed to gather details from people you don’t know well and the use of discretion in collecting information—both of which can make you more successful in this career.
