# Detectives and Criminal Investigators

> Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/detectives-and-criminal-investigators
- SOC code: 33-3021.00
- Career family: Protective service
- Median annual pay: $93,790 (10th percentile $55,390, 90th percentile $160,540)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, +0.2%
- Openings a year: 7,800
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ICR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 53 |
| Investigative (I) | 65 |
| Artistic (A) | 3 |
| Social (S) | 29 |
| Enterprising (E) | 51 |
| Conventional (C) | 64 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 98/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 94/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 94/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 93/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 93/100)
- Getting Information (importance 93/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 92/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 91/100)
- Processing Information (importance 90/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 89/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Learning, Writing, Coordination

## Knowledge

Law and Government, Public Safety and Security, Customer and Personal Service, Psychology, English Language, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Communications and Media, Geography, Sociology and Anthropology

## Also called

Burglary Investigator, City Detective, Counter Intelligence Agent, Crime Analyst, Crime Investigator Special Agent, Criminal Analyst, Criminal Investigations Agent, Criminal Investigative Agent, Criminal Investigator, Criminal Investigator Special Agent

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Criminal Justice and Corrections](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4301) (CIP 4301, 1,742 colleges)
- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4304) (CIP 4304, 513 colleges)
- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)
- [Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2902) (CIP 2902, 85 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Calumet College of Saint Joseph](https://www.collegesref.com/college/calumet-college-of-saint-joseph-380) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,078 | $106,465 | $20,417 |
| [Champlain College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/champlain-college-508) | Security Science and Technology | $68,425 | $101,401 | $28,520 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Security Science and Technology | $58,252 | $98,996 | $20,500 |
| [Florida State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Security Science and Technology | $60,178 | $93,841 | $15,125 |
| [Robert Morris University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/robert-morris-university-2246) | Security Science and Technology | $64,104 | $90,206 | $26,000 |
| [Mercyhurst University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mercyhurst-university-1646) | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $52,770 | $86,597 | $25,000 |
| [Norwich University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/norwich-university-1970) | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $77,627 | $85,184 | not reported |
| [Maryville University of Saint Louis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/maryville-university-of-saint-louis-1610) | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $63,584 | $84,342 | $23,911 |

## Related careers

- [Private Detectives and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/private-detectives-and-investigators): $51,220 median pay
- [Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/police-and-sheriffs-patrol-officers): $76,210 median pay
- [Police Identification and Records Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/police-identification-and-records-officers): $93,790 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-police-and-detectives): $106,040 median pay
- [Intelligence Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/intelligence-analysts): $93,790 median pay
- [Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fraud-examiners-investigators-and-analysts): $81,100 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.