Skip tracers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Skip tracers specialize in locating people whose whereabouts are unknown. For example, debt collectors may employ them to locate people who have unpaid bills.
- Education Required
- Education requirements vary greatly with the job, but most jobs require a high school diploma. Some, though, may require a 2- or 4-year degree in a field such as criminal justice.
- Training Required
- Most private detectives and investigators learn through on-the-job training, typically lasting between several months and a year.
- Job Outlook
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The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 10% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Most states require private detectives and investigators to have a license. Check with your state for more information; Professional Investigator Magazine has links to most states licensing requirements. Because laws often change, jobseekers should verify the licensing laws related to private investigators with the state and locality in which they want to work.
- Median pay: How much do Private Detectives and Investigators make?
- $48,190 Annual Salary
- $23.17 per hour
Careers for Private Detectives and Investigators
- Certified legal investigators
- Licensed private investigators
- Loss prevention detectives
- Private detectives
- Private eyes
- Private investigators
- Store detectives