Skip navigation

Private Detectives and Investigators - 33-9021.00

O*NET-SOC Description

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.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Asset Protection Detective
  • Field Investigator
  • Investigator
  • Loss Prevention Agent
  • Loss Prevention Associate
  • Loss Prevention Detective
  • Loss Prevention Investigator
  • Loss Prevention Officer
  • Private Investigator
  • Special Investigator

SOC Occupation Groups

33-0000 Protective Service Occupations
33-9000 Other Protective Service Workers
33-9020 Private Detectives and Investigators
33-9021.00 Private Detectives and Investigators

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations.
  • Apprehend suspects and release them to law enforcement authorities or security personnel.
  • Conduct personal background investigations, 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, or receive instructions.
  • Count cash and review transactions, sales checks, or register tapes to verify amounts or 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 to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
  • Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
  • Perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or 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 or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
  • Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
  • Warn troublemakers causing problems on establishment premises and eject them from premises when necessary.
  • Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Apprehend criminal suspects.
  • Balance receipts.
  • Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to respond to incidents.
  • Communicate situation details to appropriate personnel.
  • Examine records or other types of data to investigate criminal activities.
  • Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with security or safety regulations.
  • Interview people to obtain information about actions or status of individuals.
  • Investigate crimes committed within organizations.
  • Investigate personal characteristics or activities of individuals.
  • Observe individuals' activities to gather information or compile evidence.
  • Prepare investigation or incident reports.
  • Prevent unauthorized individuals from entering restricted areas.
  • Record crime or accident scene evidence with video or still cameras.
  • Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
  • Use databases to locate investigation details or other information.
  • Warn individuals about rule violations or safety concerns.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Afloat Security Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Antitank Missile Gunner (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Area Intelligence Technician (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • CID Special Agent (Army - Enlisted)
  • CID Special Agent (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Counter Intelligence Agent (Army - Enlisted)
  • Counter-Intelligence Technician (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT) Specialist (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Criminal Investigation Officer (Marine Corps - Warrant Officer only)
  • Criminal Investigator CID Agent (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Critical Skills Operator (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • CWO - Intelligence (Navy - Warrant Officer only)
  • CWO - Security (Navy - Warrant Officer only)
  • Forensic Psycho-physiologist (Polygraph Examiner) (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Gunner's Mate (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Human Intelligence Collection Technician (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Human Intelligence Collector (Army - Enlisted)
  • Human Intelligence Specialist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Human Intelligence Specialist Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Human Intelligence Specialist Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Human Intelligence Specialist Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Infantry Unit Leader (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Intelligence Senior Sergeant (Army - Enlisted)
  • Investigations (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Investigator (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Law Enforcement and Security Officer, Afloat (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Law Enforcement and Security Officer, Shore Activity (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Law Enforcement and Security Officer, Staff (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • LDO - Intelligence (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • LDO - Security (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Operations Chief (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Unit Leader (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Light Armored Reconnaissance Marine (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Marine Investigations (Coast Guard - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Marine Safety Specialist Deck (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Marine Safety Specialist Response (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Maritime Law Enforcement Specialist (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Master-At-Arms (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Military Criminal Investigator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Military Investigator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Military Police (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Military Police (Army - Enlisted)
  • Military Police Investigator (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Military Police Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Naval Criminal Investigative Service Operations Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Operations Chief (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Rifleman (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • RL - Special Duty Officer - Intelligence Officer (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Security Forces (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Security Forces (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Apprentice, Combat Arms (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Apprentice, Military Working Dog Handler (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Helper, Combat Arms (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Helper, Military Working Dog Handler (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Journeyman, Combat Arms (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Journeyman, Military Working Dog Handler (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Security Forces Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Senior Military Police Sergeant (Army - Enlisted)
  • Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant (Army - Enlisted)
  • Special Forces Weapons Sergeant (Army - Enlisted)
  • Special Investigations (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Special Investigations (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Investigations Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Investigations Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Investigations Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Investigations Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Investigations Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Reconnaissance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Reconnaissance Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Reconnaissance Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Reconnaissance Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Reconnaissance Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Reconnaissance Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Weapons Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Investigator, Private

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Alarm Investigator
  • Bonding Agent
  • Detective I
  • Detective II
  • House Officer
  • Investigator
  • Investigator, Cash Shortage
  • Investigator, Fraud
  • Investigator, Private
  • Shopping Investigator
  • Skip Tracer
  • Undercover Operator