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Boston Career Explorer

Protective Service

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

Also called: Criminal Investigator, CSI (Crime Scene Investigator), Detective, Fugitive Detective, Fugitive Investigator, Investigator

Compare with my current job (Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$110,150
$52.96/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,110
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+3.1%
70 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training; Less than 5 years of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$77,110$94,290$110,150$149,180$184,000

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
  • Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
  • Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
  • Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
  • Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
  • Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure53 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 52
  • Language-model AIOE 51
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 57

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, and some AI use has been seen. AI tools can help with writing reports, searching records, and keeping case files organized. They do not replace interviewing people, handling evidence at a crime scene, or the judgment needed to build a case.

Likely to change

  • Writing investigation reports
  • Searching and analyzing records

Still relies on people

  • Interviewing witnesses and suspects face to face
  • Collecting evidence at crime scenes

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

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    Pay difference
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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

4 programs near Boston (plus 2 graduate)

Related occupations

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