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| Occupation Profile
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PRIVATE DETECTIVES AND INVESTIGATORS: VIRGINIA
Occupation Description
Detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment, or seek, examine, and compile information for client.
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State and National Wages
| Location |
Pay
Period |
2008 |
| 10% |
25% |
Median |
75% |
90% |
| United States |
Hourly |
$11.30 |
$14.84 |
$20.08 |
$28.40 |
$36.85 |
| Yearly |
$23,500 |
$30,900 |
$41,800 |
$59,100 |
$76,600 |
| Virginia |
Hourly |
$15.15 |
$20.13 |
$27.60 |
$40.45 |
$55.99 |
| Yearly |
$31,500 |
$41,900 |
$57,400 |
$84,100 |
$116,500 |
- High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
- Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
- Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.
- High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
- Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
- Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.
Occupation Wages FAQs
Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: Virginia Occupational Wages
State and National Trends
| United States |
Employment |
Percent
Change |
Job Openings 1 |
| 2008 |
2018 |
Private detectives and investigators |
45,500 |
55,500 |
+22%
|
1,930
| Virginia |
Employment |
Percent
Change |
Job Openings 1 |
| 2006 |
2016 |
| Private detectives and investigators |
1,740 |
2,190 |
+26%
|
80
|
1Job Openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement.
Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.
Occupation Trends FAQs
Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
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Employment Trends by Industry and Occupation
National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: Virginia Employment Commission
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Private Detectives and Investigators.
Knowledge:
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Skills:
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Abilities:
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Source: Occupational Information Network: Private Detectives and Investigators.
Tasks and Activities
Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Private Detectives and Investigators.
Occupation Specific Tasks:
- Alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations.
- Apprehend suspects and release them to law enforcement authorities or security personnel.
- Conduct background investigations of individuals, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status or personal history.
- Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
- Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, and receive instructions.
- Count cash, and review transactions, sales checks, and register tapes in order to verify amounts and to identify shortages.
- Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
- Investigate companies' financial standings or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.
- Monitor industrial or commercial properties to enforce conformance to establishment rules, and to protect people or property.
- Observe and document activities of individuals in order to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
- Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, and disturbances in order to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, and to gather information for court cases.
- Perform undercover operations such as evaluating the performance and honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.
- Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons, or information about individuals' character or financial status.
- Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax and legal filings, and other resources in order to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
- Testify at hearings and court trials to present evidence.
- Warn troublemakers causing problems on establishment premises, and eject them from premises when necessary.
- Write reports and case summaries to document investigations.
Generalized Work Activities:
- Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Detailed Work Activities:
- analyze existing evidence or facts
- analyze handwriting
- apprehend or arrest suspect or perpetrator of criminal act
- balance cash register
- communicate details in protective services settings
- compile biological data for criminal investigations
- compile evidence for court actions
- compute financial data
- conduct legal research
- conduct legal searches or investigations
- conduct surveillance to obtain information for law enforcement
- consult with managerial or supervisory personnel
- cooperate with court personnel or other law enforcement agencies
- enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
- follow law enforcement methods or procedures
- gather physical evidence
- identify fingerprints
- identify firearms or weapons
- investigate complaints, disturbances, or violations
- locate persons ( skip tracing )
- make decisions
- manage detailed records or files in law enforcement setting
- obtain information from individuals
- operate cameras
- oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
- patrol or guard area or premises
- prepare reports
- read maps
- review facts to determine if criminal act or statue violation is involved
- testify in court for accident and criminal cases
- use accounting or bookkeeping software
- use firearms
- use interviewing procedures
- use knowledge of investigation techniques
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use surveillance techniques
- verify investigative information
Source: Occupational Information Network: Private Detectives and Investigators.
Tools and Technology
Private Detectives and Investigators View Detailed Report
Tools:
- Binoculars - High powered binoculars
- Biological evidence collection kits - Biological evidence collection kits
- Desktop computers - Desktop computers
- Digital camcorders or video cameras - Digital video cameras
- Digital cameras - Compact digital cameras
Technology:
- Electronic mail software - Email software
- Graphics or photo imaging software - Computer imaging software
- Information retrieval or search software - LexisNexis software
- Internet browser software - Web browser software
- Word processing software - Microsoft Word
Source: Occupational Information Network: Private Detectives and Investigators.
Education and Training
Occupation: Private Detectives and Investigators
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Work experience in a related occupation
Related Instructional Programs: Criminal Justice/Police Science
Distribution of Educational Attainment
| Occupation |
Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is |
| Less than high school diploma |
High school diploma or equivalent |
Some college, no degree |
Associate's degree |
Bachelor's degree |
Master's degree |
Doctoral or professional degree |
| Private detectives and investigators |
1.4% |
14.1% |
24.1% |
10.6% |
37.4% |
9.6% |
2.7% |
| Other Protective Service Workers |
10.7% |
33.8% |
26% |
8.7% |
16.4% |
3.6% |
0.9% |
| Protective Service |
4.8% |
26.4% |
30.3% |
12.7% |
20.7% |
4.4% |
0.7% |
| Total, All Occupations |
10.7% |
27.6% |
20.6% |
8.9% |
19.4% |
8.3% |
4.5% |
Find colleges, training schools and instructional programs for this occupation.
Access additional Education Resources in the Career Resource Library.
Use the Financial Aid Advisor to help find funds for financing education.
WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.vwn.virginia.gov/
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)
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