Private investigators are in demand and pay a starting rate of about $40,000 per year โ and up to $250 for specialists. Female investigators are especially in short supply. Degrees are not required.
Hereโs a closer look at what exactly a private investigator does, the skills you need to become one, and what path to take if youโre interested in a career move as a private investigator.ย
What does a private investigator do?
How much does a private investigator make?
What skills do you need to become a private investigator?
How do you become a private investigator?
Does a private investigator need a license?
Find out the private investigator requirements in your state
Consider enrolling in weapons and self-defense training
Pass state exam and background check
Where to get experience as a private investigator intern
Bottom line: companies need more women investigators
How to become a private investigator FAQs
- How long does it take to become a private investigator?
- What are the types of private investigators?
- What are good backgrounds for private investigators?
Amanda Appiโs advice for aspiring private investigators
Only about a quarter of private investigators in the U.S. are women, and experts like Richard Ring, a former special operations and intelligence and CEO and president of private investigation firm F3 Intelligence Corp, say thereโs a great need to see that figure go up. Why? In many ways, he says, women can have the upper hand when it comes to investigations.
โSince most PIs are men, women often seem less suspicious and itโs generally much easier for female investigators to get the person theyโre investigating to open up to them,โ Ring says. โIn my experiences, female investigators are often better received in negotiations in business meetings in the corporate world. While itโs a heavily male dominated field, if there's a female that's good at what she does, she can really kill it.โ
Amanda Appi, a combat veteran turned private investigator in South Carolina, emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience and adaptability in the field of private investigation. โIt's really an art form because there's a lot of moving parts in these investigations,” she notes, highlighting the need for quick thinking and good instincts in this career. Her journey from the military to business school to private investigation showcases the diverse paths that can lead to success in this field.
What does a private investigator do?
A private investigator is someone who is hired by an individual or company to provide investigative services and uncover information that canโt be easily attained.
Also known as private detectives or private eyes, these individuals can work for all types of clients and companies. Below are some of the main types, and examples of the kinds of work a PI might be hired or contracted to do for each:
- Law firms: Anything from locating and interviewing witnesses, conducting background checks, gathering evidence for civil or criminal cases, and more
- Corporations: Investigating employee theft or fraud, conducting due diligence on potential business partners, performing corporate security audits, etc.
- Insurance companies: Investigating potentially fraudulent claims, conducting surveillance on workers' compensation claimants, assisting with arson investigations, etc.
- Law enforcement: Assisting with cold cases, conducting surveillance on suspects, locating persons of interest, and more
- Individuals: Investigating potential infidelity in relationships, locating missing persons, conducting background checks on potential romantic partners, among others
Appi, who hosts a podcast called Investigatorโs Round Table, notes that the work can vary significantly depending on your niche. “There are other PIs whose niche is in criminal defense, or personal injury type stuff, like insurance fraud, stuff like that,โ she explains. But at her company, Immaculate Investigations, LLC, she says the โmain bread and butter is really that domestic stuff.”
How much does a private investigator make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage for private detectives and investigators was $59,380 in May 2021. However, pay can vary significantly depending on specialty. Noting that it really varies depending on your location and niche, Appi provides some insight into starting salaries: “I would say probably for somebody that's just starting out, you're probably going to be in the $30K to $40K range as an employee.โ
โGeneral investigators usually charge between $20 and $35 an hour,โ Ring says. โBut for people who specialize in things like cryptocurrency forensics, baseline salary is generally between $125 to $250 an hour.โ
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What skills do you need to become a private investigator?
Appi emphasizes the importance of adaptability and communication skills. “It's really an art form because there's a lot of moving parts in these investigations,โ she says. โThere's a lot of on-your-feet thinking. You have to have good instincts; you have to be able to talk to people.”
Depending on the field of private investigation youโre interested in, the specific skills youโll need may vary. For example, if youโre looking to get into cyber crime, youโll need experience in digital forensics, while a PI investigating fraud needs thorough knowledge in criminal and civil law.
However, generally speaking, there are certain skills and traits that all private investigators need to be successful, says Richard Ring, a former special operations and intelligence and CEO and president of F3 Intelligence Corp, a private investigation firm based in Orlando, Florida. These include:
- Having an analytical mind
- Curiosity
- Being methodical and detail-oriented
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Patience
- Persistence and an unrelenting nature
โBasically, youโll want to be like a bloodhound on a trail,โ Ring says. โYou'll stay up for five days straight before you'll go to sleep if you haven't solved a case. Thatโs the type of personality good private investigators have. Theyโre very relentless.โ
How do you become a private investigator?
If youโre interested in making a career change to become a private investigator, there are a number of ways to get started. Different states have different requirements and processes so youโll need to become familiar with the rules where you live.
“Definitely work under somebody. Get as much training as you can,โ advises Appi. โIt's a diverse field, so try out everything at first. Maybe try to work for somebody that takes on a broad range of casesโthat way you get the experience everywhere.”
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College degrees are not typically required.
To get started as a general private investigator, consider an internship with a local private investigation firm. This can be an easy way to quickly learn how to search for information, conduct interviews and interrogations, and edit surveillance videos. Youโll likely have access to veteran PIs and can pick their brains about working in the field.
If you have a speciality, such as fraud investigations, arson investigations, digital forensics, or corporate investigations like mergers and acquisitions, Ring recommends looking for internships at hedge firms, corporations, or financial institutions. You might also consider law firms, insurance companies, security firms, identity protection services, and retail businesses.
Does a private investigator need a license?
Most states require professional private investigators to be licensed. Usually, a dedicated PI licensing board operates under an umbrella licensing body run by the state. This board oversees and regulates licenses for PIs. For example, Colorado licenses private investigators through the Office of Private Investigator Licensure, which is under the Department of Regulatory Agencies. Tennessee PIs receive their license from the Private Investigative and Polygraph Commission, within the Department of Commerce and Insurance. In other states like New Jersey, the regulation and licensing of PIs is the responsibility of the state police.
Currently, all but five states require PI licenses at the state level. The states without this requirement includes:
- Alaska
- Mississippi
- Idaho
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
Still, Wyoming and Alaska have licensing requirements at the local level. The remaining three states have professional associations dedicated to upholding codes of ethics for private investigators.
Find out the private investigator requirements in your state
Each state has its own set of minimum requirements to obtain licensure as a private investigator.
Generally, these minimum requirements include:
- United States citizenship or legal residency
- A high school diploma or GED certificate
- Being at least a certain age, usually between 21 and 25
- No history of felony convictions
- No history of dishonorable discharge from the U.S. military
Check here to learn more about individual state licensing requirements for PIs.
Each state has its own education and experience requirements for PI licensing. Most states donโt require a certain degree to become a private investigator, but many professionals in the field choose to pursue a bachelorโs or associateโs degree in criminal justice or a related area.
Experience is often required to become a private investigator, though many states allow candidates to substitute education for experience. PI-related experience can include working as a claims investigator, risk manager, insurance claims specialist, director of security, or law enforcement officer.
Appi stresses the value of practical experience over formal education. โAny way you can get hands-on experience, even if it's just interning somewhere, is going to be your best bet,โ she says. โIt is such a unique field.โ
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Consider certification
While certification is not a requirement to work as a private investigator, it can provide you with independent confirmation of your skills and also offer a resume boost.
One option is the Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) certification from the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI). To become a CLI, applicants must meet a number of requirements, including passing a written and oral exam and completing five years of professional experience, although one year of work experience can be substituted with completion of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of course work at an accredited college or university.
ASIS International offers the Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) certification, which validates your knowledge and specialized skills in security investigations, including the effective use of surveillance, interviews, and interrogations. Earning a PCI certificate requires three to five years of investigations experience, as well as passing the PCI exam.
Consider enrolling in weapons and self-defense training
While weapons training might seem necessary, Appi notes that it's not always required, depending, again, on the type of work youโre doing. โI've never pulled a weapon on anyone or anything like that,โ she says. โI mean, there is a danger factor of obviously getting caught, but a lot of times you'll be in your car and it's better to just drive away at that point.”
Some states allow PIs to carry firearms. In these states, candidates must pass mandatory firearms training to obtain certification. Firearm training can be done through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Rifle Association, or an accredited police standards and training council firearms instructor school.
Pass state exam and background check
To become a licensed private investigator, some states require candidates to take and pass a state exam. These exams typically cover rules and regulations for working as a PI or running a private investigative business.
Additionally, youโll need to pass a background check and submit a full set of fingerprints to obtain a PI license. Most states also require proof of a surety bond (similar to insurance) of no less than $10,000. Youโll need to submit all your documentation, along with necessary fees to your stateโs licensing board.
Bottom line: Companies need more women investigators
Appi emphasizes the unique advantages women bring to private investigation, particularly in family court cases. She notes that female investigators, especially those who are mothers, often have a keen eye for details that others might miss in child custody situations. This intuition can be invaluable when assessing child safety and well-being.
Appi also highlights the emotional intelligence that women often bring to the job. Many clients seek out private investigators during difficult times in their lives, and a nurturing, empathetic approach can be particularly effective. This communication style not only puts clients at ease but also encourages them to share more information, ultimately benefiting the investigation process
For those considering this career path, Appi offers this final advice: โI would say try it. That dream is in your heart for a reason and you don't know until you try it. If you're not ready to give up your full-time job or something like that, then just intern somewhere, or contact PIs in the areaโmaybe they'll talk to you.โ
How to become a private investigator FAQs
1. How long does it take to become a private investigator?
The length of time it takes to become a private investigator in the U.S. will vary from state to state, as each state has different education and experience requirements. For example, some states, like New Hampshire, require four years of experience in investigations for licensure, but two of those years may be substituted with education for candidates who have an associateโs or bachelorโs degree in criminal justice.
2. What are the types of private investigators?
Private investigators are hired for a number of reasons and there are a wide variety of specialities in the field. Some of the most common types of PIs include:
- Accident investigation
- Arson / fire investigation
- Asset search
- Background checks
- Bounty hunter
- Cell phone records
- Cyber crime
- Crime scene
- Corporate
- General investigators, whose services can include marital infidelity, child support / custody, missing persons, and debt collecting
- Electronic / video surveillance
- Fraud
- Identity theft
- Mystery shopper
- Protection of celebrities or executives
- Repossessions
- Social media
- Workers compensation
- Wrongful death
3. What are good backgrounds for private investigators?
Private investigators come from a number of different backgrounds including:
- Law
- Criminal justice
- Law enforcement
- Military
- Information technology (IT)
- Business and marketing
- Sales
According to Ring, having a science or healthcare background also lends itself to a career in private investigating.
โPeople with medical or science degrees are very analytical and driven,โ he says. โThey know how to conduct research and how to use the scientific method, which is similar to the intelligence cycle. So I think people that are in healthcare, healthcare adjacent career fields or science career fields, make excellent detectives.โ
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He also notes that the methodical nature of working in accounting or finance makes these fields excellent backgrounds for private investigators.
Amanda Appiโs advice for aspiring private investigators:
- Gain hands-on experience by working under an experienced investigator. She recommends trying to work for someone who takes on a broad range of cases to get diverse experience.
- Focus on becoming a skilled field investigator and technician first, developing abilities in surveillance and other practical aspects of the job.
- Be prepared to think on your feet and develop good instincts. Appi emphasizes that private investigation is โan art formโ requiring creativity and adaptability.
- Develop strong communication and people skills. Appi notes that the ability to talk to people and โsell yourselfโ to get information is often more valuable than law enforcement experience. (She says this is why people with a sales background can do really well in this field!)
- Consider studying business rather than criminal justice if pursuing formal education. Appi suggests a business degree may be more useful, especially if you plan to start your own agency.
- Be prepared for a challenging field. Appi warns that the industry can be โbrutalโ and โnot for the faint of heart,โ requiring thick skin and courage.
- If unsure if this is the right field for you, try interning or contacting local PIs to learn more about the profession before fully committing.
- Have realistic expectations about the work, understanding that much of it involves long periods of waiting and observation rather than constant action.
SOURCE
- “Private Investigator Demographics and Statistics in the United States,” Zippia. Accessed Nov. 22, 2024
https://www.zippia.com/private-investigator-jobs/demographics/
