Annual Salary
variable
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Private investigators (PIs) make enquiries on behalf of their clients to find out information and check facts.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; as customers demand
There will be
0.3% more Private investigator jobs in 2027.
Your day-to-day duties might include:
You could work in an office or from home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You could do the Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Private Investigation.
You'll usually need:
If you're already in the police force you could be selected to complete the National Investigators' Examination and be a private investigator for the police.
There are currently no set entry requirements to become a private investigator.
Experience working in an enforcement or investigative role, with the police, armed forces or local authority, would be useful.
You can do a private Investigator course through a professional body or private training organisation.
You'll need to:
If you want to be self-employed, you'll need the ability to run your own business and have some legal knowledge around information laws and data protection.
You can find out more about becoming a private investigator from the Association of British Investigators and Institute of Professional Investigators.
With experience, you could become a senior investigator or team manager, or set up your own agency and have other investigators working for you.
You can find out more about becoming a private investigator from the Association of British Investigators and Institute of Professional Investigators.
You'll need: