Private Investigator

What a Private Investigator Does

Private investigators are paid to sniff out evidence of wrongdoing, hunt for clues and dig up pertinent facts about individuals for various clients. They uncover legal, financial and personal information for a variety of purposes, such as use for evidence in court, finding a missing person, or background checking by a highly selective employer, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are skilled at interviewing and research, and most use computers in their sleuthing far more often than they hit the streets. Many have legal or law enforcement backgrounds. A private investigator's clients might be individuals, businesses or attorneys. Private investigators often specialize in a particular area, such as investigation of computer crimes, premarital or employment screening, or insurance/workers' compensation fraud, the Bureau explained. Some private investigators perform physical surveillance, covertly following and observing individuals from inconspicuous public places, collecting evidence of criminal or illicit behavior by taking photos or recording video footage.

How to Become a Private Investigator

A college degree is not always required to become a private investigator, but many in the field do have postsecondary degrees, according to the Bureau. The only branch of private investigation that routinely requires a bachelor's degree is corporate investigation, and that degree should preferably be in a field of business, the Bureau notes. In fact, a few corporate investigation positions require law degrees or MBAs. Private investigators who work in computer forensics may need a degree in computer science or accounting. Otherwise, degree programs or college courses in police science and criminal justice are especially useful for those who aspire to be private investigators. While a few private investigators begin their careers right after college, many gain experience in law enforcement first. Preliminary careers in law enforcement are often important for equipping private investigators with valuable experience in investigative work. After all, if you plan to become a self-employed private investigator or move into the private sector, it is important that you can point to your past investigative experience when meeting with potential clients and employers. Most get trained on the job, and in all but seven U.S. states, private investigators must also be licensed.

Career Outlook for Private Investigators

The good news for those who wish to pursue careers as private investigators is that employment is expected to grow much faster than average from 2008 to 2018. Private detectives and investigators are projected to experience a whopping 22 percent employment growth in that decade, according to the Bureau. Demand for private investigators will be spurred by rising security concerns, increased litigation, and a greater need to protect confidential property and information, the Bureau explains. Another factor that will lead to more employment of private investigators is the increasing number of cyber crimes, such as harassment over e-mail or social networks, spamming, phishing, identity theft and the pirating of copyrighted materials online, the Bureau states. Qualified private investigators specializing in computer crimes will be needed to investigate these crimes. The bad news for those looking to enter the field is they will experience keen competition for jobs, as many qualified individuals are also interested in this career. The average annual salary for private investigators was $41,760 as of May 2008, with the middle 50 percent earning between $30,870 and $59,060, according to the Bureau.