Job description template

Detective Job Description Template

A copy-ready detective job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How to use this template

Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows detectives earn a median of $93,790 ($45.09/hour); the middle 50% earn $69,330–$120,520.

Job title

Detective

Job summary

[Company name] is seeking a dependable detective to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will investigate crimes and review case reports, process scenes and collect evidence and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.

Responsibilities

  • Investigate crimes and review case reports
  • Process scenes and collect evidence
  • Interview victims, witnesses and suspects
  • Write search and arrest warrants
  • Analyze records, video and digital evidence
  • Work with prosecutors on cases
  • Testify in court
  • Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations

Required qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Current license or certification as required by [state]
  • Working knowledge of investigative interviewing and evidence collection
  • Persistence and critical thinking
  • [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]

Preferred qualifications

  • State peace officer certification
  • Investigative interviewing training
  • Crime scene and evidence training
  • Experience with case management systems

Skills

  • Report and warrant writing
  • Digital evidence basics
  • Criminal law
  • Courtroom testimony
  • Communication
  • Integrity

Work environment and schedule

Detectives work in offices, in the field, at crime scenes and in court, sometimes in dangerous situations. Detectives often work long, irregular hours, including on-call duty for major cases.

Pay and benefits

$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]

Equal opportunity

[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Tips for a detective job posting that attracts applicants

  • Use the title candidates search for. “Detective” is the clearest; alternates include Criminal Investigator, Police Detective, Special Agent.
  • Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
  • Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
  • Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of a detective so applicants self-select accurately.
  • Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Detective training: widens your applicant pool.

Next steps

Screen and interview with our Detective hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.

Team pricing