Becoming a Private Investigator via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering criminal justice courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
criminal justice administrators,
public prosecutors,
public defenders,
judges,
probation officers,
juvenile prosecutors,
juvenile defenders,
criminal justice professionals, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 31,250 people employed as
private detectives and investigators alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$47,130.
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators make on average $58,780
per year and there are about 273,930
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Private Investigator
- Attorney offices
- Insurance Firms
- Small Law Firms
- Private small businesses
- Private homes
- Process Serving Facilities
- Legal businesses
- Court houses
- Corporate Businesses
- Newspaper Companies
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Private Investigator
- Make your own hours
- Be your own boss
- Meet a lot of people
- Feel a sense of accomplishment
- Help people in need
- Travel to different locations
- Work from home
- Have an opportunity to make great money
- Have a cool job title
- Use your brain to solve mysteries
Potential Drawbacks
- Work hours are often irregular and the work can be dangerous
- Keen competition is expected for most jobs
- Need some kind of education and or work in a related field
- Investigators preform a lot of surveillance during late hours
- Surveillance can be time consuming
- Investigators depend on the needs of their clients
- High competition
- Regular travel
- Late working hours
- Should communicate well
Related Professions to Consider
- Private Detectives
- Investigators Assistant
- Computer Forensic Investigator
- Legal Investigators
- Corporate Investigator
- Financial Investigator
- Loss Prevention Agent
- Store Detective
- Hotel Detective
- Investment Banker
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Private Investigator
- What is your greatest weakness?
- What is your greatest strength?
- How will your greatest strength help you perform?
- How would you describe yourself?
- Describe a typical work week.?
- Do you take work home with you?
- How many hours do you normally work?
- How would you describe the pace at which you work?
- How do you handle stress and pressure?
- Are you a self motivator?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Journalist
- Divorce Attorney
- Police Officer
- Human Resources Head
- Hiring Clerk
- Congressman
- Governor
- District Attorney
- Detective
- Business Manager
Private Investigator Training books
Private Investigator (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Criminal Investigations
- Private Investigating
- Background Investigation and Research
- Tracking and Locating Missing Persons
- Surveillance
- Legal Investigations
- Business Crimes Investigations
- Forensic Investigating
- Computer Protection
- Photography
Private Investigator Salary Information
Category: Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
| Total # Employed in the US |
273,930 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$28.26/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.74 |
$20.82 |
$27.46 |
$34.68 |
$41.25 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$58,780 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $34,820 |
$43,300 |
$57,130 |
$72,130 |
$85,810 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.3% |
17.9% |
25.9% |
10.7% |
38.5% |
4.6% |
1.2% |
|
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$37.11/hr
|
$77,180
|
| North Dakota |
$32.3/hr
|
$67,190
|
| Massachusetts |
$30.59/hr
|
$63,630
|
| Oklahoma |
$30.44/hr
|
$63,310
|
| Puerto Rico |
$30.43/hr
|
$63,300
|
| Mississippi |
$30.37/hr
|
$63,170
|
| Colorado |
$30.11/hr
|
$62,620
|
| Delaware |
$29.96/hr
|
$62,310
|
| Connecticut |
$29.92/hr
|
$62,230
|
| Missouri |
$29.79/hr
|
$61,960
|
| New York |
$29.47/hr
|
$61,290
|
| North Carolina |
$29.33/hr
|
$61,010
|
| Kansas |
$29.32/hr
|
$60,980
|
| Nevada |
$29.04/hr
|
$60,400
|
| Kentucky |
$28.45/hr
|
$59,170
|
| Utah |
$28.24/hr
|
$58,730
|
| Arkansas |
$28.05/hr
|
$58,340
|
| South Carolina |
$27.94/hr
|
$58,120
|
| Montana |
$27.88/hr
|
$57,980
|
| Tennessee |
$27.87/hr
|
$57,970
|
| Virginia |
$27.86/hr
|
$57,960
|
| Wyoming |
$27.8/hr
|
$57,820
|
| Alaska |
$27.69/hr
|
$57,590
|
| Alabama |
$27.65/hr
|
$57,520
|
| Oregon |
$27.48/hr
|
$57,160
|
| Ohio |
$27.41/hr
|
$57,020
|
| Idaho |
$27.33/hr
|
$56,860
|
| West Virginia |
$26.79/hr
|
$55,730
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.68/hr
|
$55,490
|
| Wisconsin |
$26.61/hr
|
$55,340
|
| District of Columbia |
$26.34/hr
|
$54,780
|
| Hawaii |
$26.24/hr
|
$54,570
|
| Maryland |
$26.14/hr
|
$54,380
|
| Michigan |
$25.91/hr
|
$53,890
|
| Maine |
$25.82/hr
|
$53,700
|
| Washington |
$25.77/hr
|
$53,600
|
| New Jersey |
$25.64/hr
|
$53,340
|
| Iowa |
$25.43/hr
|
$52,890
|
| Guam |
$25.32/hr
|
$52,670
|
| Indiana |
$25.24/hr
|
$52,500
|
| Louisiana |
$25.23/hr
|
$52,480
|
| New Mexico |
$24.75/hr
|
$51,480
|
| Nebraska |
$24.75/hr
|
$51,480
|
| Pennsylvania |
$24.02/hr
|
$49,970
|
| South Dakota |
$23.6/hr
|
$49,080
|
| California |
$23.4/hr
|
$48,670
|
Category: Detectives and criminal investigators
| Total # Employed in the US |
110,380 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.66/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.25 |
$22.63 |
$29.86 |
$40.22 |
$48.07 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$65,860 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $37,960 |
$47,070 |
$62,110 |
$83,650 |
$99,980 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
10.0% |
25.9% |
12.1% |
40.2% |
9.6% |
1.8% |
|
Detectives and criminal investigators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$45.49/hr
|
$94,620
|
| North Dakota |
$41.31/hr
|
$85,930
|
| Colorado |
$38.53/hr
|
$80,140
|
| District of Columbia |
$37.48/hr
|
$77,960
|
| Mississippi |
$37.46/hr
|
$77,910
|
| Indiana |
$36.84/hr
|
$76,640
|
| Kansas |
$36.71/hr
|
$76,360
|
| Alaska |
$35.91/hr
|
$74,690
|
| Delaware |
$34.98/hr
|
$72,750
|
| Connecticut |
$34.93/hr
|
$72,650
|
| New York |
$33.8/hr
|
$70,310
|
| Montana |
$33.64/hr
|
$69,970
|
| Missouri |
$33.64/hr
|
$69,980
|
| Utah |
$33.12/hr
|
$68,890
|
| Oklahoma |
$32.95/hr
|
$68,530
|
| Tennessee |
$32.88/hr
|
$68,400
|
| Virginia |
$32.69/hr
|
$68,000
|
| Nebraska |
$31.47/hr
|
$65,450
|
| South Carolina |
$30.87/hr
|
$64,220
|
| North Carolina |
$30.76/hr
|
$63,980
|
| Hawaii |
$30.75/hr
|
$63,960
|
| Louisiana |
$30.23/hr
|
$62,890
|
| Guam |
$30.01/hr
|
$62,410
|
| Puerto Rico |
$29.87/hr
|
$62,130
|
| New Jersey |
$29.54/hr
|
$61,430
|
| Pennsylvania |
$28.44/hr
|
$59,160
|
| New Mexico |
$28.36/hr
|
$58,980
|
| Wyoming |
$28.23/hr
|
$58,720
|
| West Virginia |
$27.54/hr
|
$57,280
|
| Iowa |
$27.53/hr
|
$57,260
|
| Arkansas |
$27.51/hr
|
$57,230
|
| Maryland |
$27.24/hr
|
$56,660
|
| Michigan |
$26.46/hr
|
$55,040
|
| Maine |
$26.34/hr
|
$54,780
|
| Ohio |
$26.27/hr
|
$54,650
|
| Alabama |
$26.13/hr
|
$54,340
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.06/hr
|
$54,210
|
| Wisconsin |
$26.05/hr
|
$54,180
|
| Idaho |
$25.73/hr
|
$53,530
|
| Kentucky |
$25.65/hr
|
$53,350
|
| South Dakota |
$24.95/hr
|
$51,890
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.95/hr
|
$51,890
|
| Washington |
$24.71/hr
|
$51,400
|
| California |
$24.71/hr
|
$51,400
|
| Oregon |
$23.2/hr
|
$48,250
|
| Nevada |
$22.63/hr
|
$47,080
|
Category: Private detectives and investigators
| Total # Employed in the US |
31,250 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$22.66/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.88 |
$15.45 |
$20.25 |
$27.84 |
$36.52 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$47,130 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,700 |
$32,140 |
$42,110 |
$57,910 |
$75,970 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.4% |
14.1% |
24.1% |
10.6% |
37.4% |
9.6% |
2.7% |
|
Private detectives and investigators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Ohio |
$31.12/hr
|
$64,730
|
| North Dakota |
$29.69/hr
|
$61,750
|
| Alaska |
$28.68/hr
|
$59,650
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.57/hr
|
$59,430
|
| Colorado |
$28.19/hr
|
$58,630
|
| California |
$26.4/hr
|
$54,910
|
| Louisiana |
$25.85/hr
|
$53,770
|
| Maine |
$24.63/hr
|
$51,240
|
| New York |
$24.59/hr
|
$51,140
|
| Oklahoma |
$23.74/hr
|
$49,390
|
| Wyoming |
$22.86/hr
|
$47,550
|
| Utah |
$22.4/hr
|
$46,590
|
| Hawaii |
$22.35/hr
|
$46,490
|
| Kansas |
$22.3/hr
|
$46,380
|
| Mississippi |
$22.1/hr
|
$45,960
|
| South Dakota |
$22.02/hr
|
$45,800
|
| Delaware |
$21.57/hr
|
$44,860
|
| Virginia |
$21.36/hr
|
$44,430
|
| Connecticut |
$21.26/hr
|
$44,220
|
| Montana |
$21.2/hr
|
$44,100
|
| South Carolina |
$21.03/hr
|
$43,740
|
| Nevada |
$20.93/hr
|
$43,530
|
| Oregon |
$20.84/hr
|
$43,350
|
| Kentucky |
$20.83/hr
|
$43,320
|
| Tennessee |
$20.59/hr
|
$42,840
|
| Arkansas |
$20.29/hr
|
$42,210
|
| Wisconsin |
$19.87/hr
|
$41,330
|
| Alabama |
$19.85/hr
|
$41,280
|
| Idaho |
$19.41/hr
|
$40,380
|
| Nebraska |
$19.13/hr
|
$39,800
|
| North Carolina |
$18.99/hr
|
$39,500
|
| Guam |
$18.96/hr
|
$39,430
|
| New Hampshire |
$18.58/hr
|
$38,650
|
| Washington |
$18.38/hr
|
$38,240
|
| Massachusetts |
$18.19/hr
|
$37,840
|
| Iowa |
$18.18/hr
|
$37,820
|
| Michigan |
$17.95/hr
|
$37,330
|
| Missouri |
$17.81/hr
|
$37,050
|
| Maryland |
$16.5/hr
|
$34,310
|
| Pennsylvania |
$14.51/hr
|
$30,170
|
| West Virginia |
$13.34/hr
|
$27,740
|
Category: Fire Investigators
| Total # Employed in the US |
12,180 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$27.07/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.89 |
$19.99 |
$25.83 |
$33.18 |
$41.06 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$56,310 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $33,040 |
$41,570 |
$53,720 |
$69,010 |
$85,400 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.7% |
21.4% |
31.6% |
15.8% |
23.3% |
5.2% |
0.0% |
|
