Jobs / Physical work / 33-9021.00

Private Detectives and Investigators

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.

US jobs
35,580
Median wage
$51,220 a year
Job family
Physical work

Can agents do the work of private detectives and investigators?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Physical work:

  • Task levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.
  • Project levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.

Unexplored territory

No benchmark in this atlas covers this work yet.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • 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.
Other job titles for this occupation (48)

Asset Protection Detective · Field Investigator · Investigator · Loss Prevention Agent · Loss Prevention Associate · Loss Prevention Detective · Loss Prevention Investigator · Loss Prevention Officer · Private Investigator · Special Investigator · Alarm Investigator · AML Investigator (Anti Money Laundering Investigator) · Background Investigator · Bonding Agent · BSA Investigator (Bank Secrecy Act Investigator) · Case Investigator · Cash Shortage Investigator · Certified Legal Investigator · Contract Investigator · Detective · Detective Investigator · District Agent · Employee Relations Investigator · Fraud Investigator · House Detective · House Officer · Intelligence Agent · Investigations Assistant · Licensed Private Investigator · Loss Prevention Analyst · Post Market Surveillance Specialist · Principal Investigator · Private Detective · Private Eye · Protection Specialist · Security Analyst · Security Consultant · Shopping Investigator · Skip Locator · Skip Tracer · Store Detective · Surveillance Agent · Surveillance Investigator · Surveillance Manager · Surveillance Officer · Surveillance Operator · Undercover Agent · Undercover Operator