How to Become a Detective / Criminal Investigator
Investigate crimes: gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build the cases that solve them. It typically requires an associate degree, with a median salary of $93,790 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$93,790/yr
Middle half
$69,330 to $120,520
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
7,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Investigation
- Interviewing
- Evidence Handling
- Critical Thinking
- Report Writing
Helpful certifications
- Police academy + investigator advancement (agency-specific)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
57/100
Stress level
77/100
Related careers
- Emergency Management Director$93,330 median
- Forensic Science Technician$72,060 median
- Probation Officer$66,270 median
- Paralegal$62,890 median
- Firefighter$59,280 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Detective / Criminal Investigator make?
The median pay for a Detective / Criminal Investigator is $93,790 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $69,330 and $120,520 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Detective / Criminal Investigator?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Criminal Justice, Criminology, Psychology, Forensic Science, and Emergency Management.
Is Detective / Criminal Investigator a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 7,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Detective / Criminal Investigator use most?
Common skills for this role are Investigation, Interviewing, Evidence Handling, Critical Thinking, and Report Writing.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).