Annual Salary
variable
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Armed forces or Emergency or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Armed forces or Emergency or go back to all job sectors
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: