Career Explorer Protective services
Grows with AI
Private detectives and investigators
Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 58% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +5.5% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and ethical judgement.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $51,220
- Job growth to 2035
- +5.5%
- Openings a year
- 3,200
- People doing it (2025)
- 39,500
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Investigate individuals' background, behavior, or activities
- Investigate criminal or legal matters
- Gather information from physical or electronic sources
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Record information about legal matters
- Present information in legal proceedings
- Interview people to obtain information
What the work looks like
- Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
- Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
- Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
- Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
- Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Protective service workers, all otherHuman edge, steady, Index 67, +3.0%
- Fire inspectors and investigatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 79, +4.2%
- Animal trainersHuman edge, growing, Index 94, +4.2%
- Occupational health and safety techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 92, +19.4%
Also known as: Investigator, Loss Prevention Detective, Loss Prevention Officer, Private Investigator, Asset Protection Detective, Field Investigator, Loss Prevention Agent, Loss Prevention Associate.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.