Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts

Professionals in this field spend their days gathering, processing, and analyzing data to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. They document their findings, evaluate information to ensure compliance with legal standards, and communicate regularly with supervisors, colleagues, and external parties. The work requires a strong conventional interest, meaning a preference for structured tasks, clear procedures, and detail-oriented projects.

To succeed, workers must apply critical thinking, active listening, and complex problem-solving skills. They rely on a deep knowledge of economics, accounting, law, government, and public safety. Because they handle sensitive investigations, these specialists must demonstrate high integrity, dependability, attention to detail, and cautiousness. They must also maintain self-control and stress tolerance when dealing with challenging cases.

Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience. Students often prepare by majoring in finance and financial management services, business administration, management and operations, applied mathematics, or religious institution administration and law.

While specific credentials vary by employer and location, some states list a license for this type of work. Professionals can also earn voluntary certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Examples of these credentials include the Certified Fraud Examiner from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Certified Forensic Interviewer from the International Association of Interviewers, and the Certified Data Science Practitioner from CertNexus.

The median annual pay for fraud examiners is $81,100, though earnings vary widely based on experience and location. The lowest 10% of workers in this field earn less than $48,460, while the highest 10% earn more than $151,490. These wage statistics represent the broader federal category of all other financial specialists.

There are 132,130 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 4.1%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with normal staff turnover, is expected to result in 9,400 job openings each year.