Investigators salaries: Investigator Salary (October 2022) – Zippia

Investigator Salary (October 2022) – Zippia

Updated August 22, 2022

$71,406yearly

To create our salary estimates, Zippia starts with data published in publicly available sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC) Show More

$34.33 hourly

Entry level Salary

$42,000

yearly

$42,000

10 %

$71,406

Median

$119,000

90 %

How much does an Investigator make?

Investigators make $71,406 per year on average, or $34.33 per hour, in the United States. Investigators on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $42,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $119,000.

Location impacts how much an investigator can expect to make. Investigators make the most in California, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Delaware.

Highest Paying State

California

Highest Paying City

San Francisco, CA

Highest Paying Company

Apple

What Am I Worth?

Highest Paying State

California

Highest Paying City

San Francisco, CA

Highest Paying Company

Apple

What Am I Worth?

Highest Paying States For Investigators

The darker areas on the map show where investigators earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

• State View
• County View

Average Salary:

Investigator average salary by State

Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Count
1	California	$99,885	$48.02	2,250
2	Montana	$90,498	$43.51	87
3	District of Columbia	$97,472	$46.86	162
4	Delaware	$84,894	$40.81	96
5	Oregon	$85,458	$41.09	302
6	Washington	$84,924	$40.83	498
7	Nevada	$81,017	$38.95	109
8	Utah	$77,835	$37.42	219
9	Wyoming	$79,338	$38.14	27
10	Maryland	$78,768	$37. 87	473
11	Ohio	$68,565	$32.96	943
12	Wisconsin	$72,805	$35.00	376
13	Alaska	$75,442	$36.27	70
14	Rhode Island	$79,872	$38.40	54
15	New York	$78,385	$37.69	745
16	New Mexico	$74,501	$35.82	112
17	South Dakota	$78,447	$37.71	29
18	Arkansas	$69,591	$33.46	162
19	Illinois	$74,880	$36.00	602
20	North Carolina	$77,417	$37.22	320
21	Alabama	$71,149	$34.21	220
22	Connecticut	$72,650	$34.93	189
23	Kentucky	$62,522	$30. 06	512
24	Pennsylvania	$64,883	$31.19	908
25	New Hampshire	$72,279	$34.75	68
26	Missouri	$63,419	$30.49	614
27	Nebraska	$62,874	$30.23	228
28	Hawaii	$63,333	$30.45	85
29	West Virginia	$66,004	$31.73	58
30	Texas	$66,061	$31.76	938
31	Tennessee	$66,359	$31.90	209
32	Minnesota	$67,278	$32.35	298
33	Massachusetts	$69,611	$33.47	390
34	Kansas	$65,552	$31.52	105
35	Michigan	$59,387	$28.55	658
36	Vermont	$67,819	$32. 61	30
37	Iowa	$64,780	$31.14	125
38	Virginia	$62,213	$29.91	656
39	Colorado	$63,080	$30.33	354
40	Maine	$63,626	$30.59	54
41	New Jersey	$63,594	$30.57	366
42	Idaho	$61,462	$29.55	78
43	Louisiana	$57,809	$27.79	172
44	North Dakota	$61,827	$29.72	32
45	Mississippi	$57,143	$27.47	117
46	Georgia	$55,976	$26.91	629
47	Arizona	$53,333	$25.64	346
48	Oklahoma	$46,126	$22.18	223
49	Indiana	$48,745	$23. 44	347
50	Florida	$43,087	$20.71	1,051
51	South Carolina	$47,901	$23.03	200

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Highest Paying Cities For Investigators

Rank	City	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
1	San Francisco, CA	$111,801	$53.75
2	Washington, DC	$97,598	$46.92
3	Seattle, WA	$85,833	$41.27
4	Portland, OR	$85,226	$40.97
5	Raleigh, NC	$80,342	$38.63
6	Providence, RI	$80,024	$38.47
7	Baltimore, MD	$79,158	$38.06
8	Albany, NY	$78,994	$37.98
9	Salt Lake City, UT	$77,812	$37.41
10	Chicago, IL	$75,510	$36.30
11	Boston, MA	$69,578	$33.45
12	Little Rock, AR	$68,847	$33.10
13	Columbus, OH	$67,454	$32.43
14	Minneapolis, MN	$67,289	$32. 35
15	Dallas, TX	$66,867	$32.15

Investigator Salary Details

Average Investigator Salary Graph, Trends, and Summary

What is an Investigator’s Salary?

Average Salary By Related Titles

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
Store Detective	$32,824	$2,735	$15. 78	67,322
Background Investigator	$51,076	$4,256	$24.56	4,428
Criminal Investigator	$54,520	$4,543	$26.21	5,131
Special Investigator	$50,623	$4,219	$24.34	14,799
Private Investigator	$48,019	$4,002	$23.09	6,675
Fraud Investigator	$49,010	$4,084	$23.56	5,470

Here are the five companies hiring the most now:

1. Meta Jobs (36)
2. Novartis Jobs (119)
3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Jobs (38)
4. Massachusetts General Hospital Jobs (37)
5. Accenture Jobs (36)

Which Companies Pay Investigators The Most?

The highest paying companies for investigators are Apple and Meta according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, companies like Microsoft and Novartis report highly competitive wages for investigators.

Investigator Salary Trends

Average Investigator Salary Over Time

Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Recently Added Investigator Salaries

Investigator Salaries FAQs

What state pays Investigators the most?

California pays Investigators the most in the United States, with an average salary of $99,885 per year, or $48.02 per hour.

How do I know if I’m being paid fairly as an Investigator?

You know if you are being paid fairly as an Investigator if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in District of Columbia you should be paid close to $97,472 per year.

What type of Investigator gets paid the most?

Senior Investigator gets paid the most. Senior Investigator made a median salary of $61,240. The best-paid 10 percent make $81,000, while the lowest-paid 10 percent make $45,000.

Do criminal investigators get paid well?

Yes, criminal investigators usually get paid well. The average salary for criminal investigators is $53,000 yearly or $25.65 hourly.

As most jobs go, factors like location, company, and experience can determine your exact salary. On the lower end of the salary range, they may make around $37,000, typically for entry-level positions. On the higher end, they can earn around $75,000, typically for senior-level positions.

What is the salary of an investigator?

The salary of an investigator is about $59,000 yearly or $28.69 hourly. As most jobs go, factors like location, industry, and experience can determine your exact salary.

On the lower end of the salary range, they may make around $40,000, typically for entry-level positions or low-paying states like Mississippi and Alabama. On the higher end of the salary range, they can earn around $88,000, typically for senior-level positions.

Have more questions? See all answers to common protective service questions.

Search For Investigator Jobs

Updated August 22, 2022

Private Investigator Salary | Private Detective Salary

Hailing from different backgrounds be it the law enforcement, military, private security or even loss prevention, private investigators salary varies and is often dependent on the level of service degrees in areas like criminal justice, public safety, and to a great extent even psychology.  

With real life private investigators turning Hollywood’s outmoded profile of the sleazy fly-by-night PI on its head, a picture that’s painted in everyone’s imagination. It is not a description that has ever really been accurate, and these days it’s barely even convincing in TV dramas that we all are accustomed to.

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These are skilled professionals with a lot of integrity and an unwavering dedication to their craft working in a regulated field wherein meeting all of the important licensing requirements on priority basis means that one has to pass a thorough background check and often pay the fees of a substantial surety bond. You must make no mistake that their earning potential reflects this quite well and legitimately.

Let’s get real, everything eventually boils down to money and whether you like admitting this or not, after the concept of what is a PI, you must have wondered about how much does a PI make.

Learn more about private detective salaries, and see what you’ll need to do for becoming one of the top earning in the field:

Deleted:

• Common Pay Structure and Compensation Models for PIs

• Salary Trends in Private Investigations

• Factors that Can Influence What PIs Earn

• 2020 Job Trends and Hourly Pay Rates

• Private Investigator Salaries by State

Common Pay Structure and Compensation Models for PIs

This is a field where you’re not always dealing with a conventional pay structure like you might find in other professions. A significant proportion of PIs work independently to serve individual clients and run their agencies as sole proprietorships, while other firms might represent a number of PIs that have either partnered up or otherwise employ investigators on the payroll.  

Some PIs charge a set rate for certain basic services when they have a sense of how much work will go into it. Charging hourly is also standard, sometimes calculated and billed down to fractions of an hour the same way an attorney would. Some cases are more involved and open-ended, so PIs might hold a retainer as a minimum fee to cover a certain number of hours.

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All of this means that in order to give a full and accurate picture of what the income is like, we needed to pull together data from a number of different sources, including reported income that comes through salary surveys conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the reporting arm of the Department of Labor, as well as job listings. In the end, you’ll find that we provide the most complete information available on salary and income in the field of private investigations.

While a good portion of private investigators work as employees of PI agencies, financial institutions, insurance companies, and credit collection companies, they also earn a standard salary whereas many also work as independent contractors, calling their own shots and earning an annual income based on the number of cases they take or the hours they bill.  

Although in 2020, the BLS stats shows us that the job outlook of private investigators is growing at a faster rate of 13%. In 2020, private investigators held about 33,700 jobs with the largest employers of private investigators constituting 36% were under investigation, guard and armored car services, whereas self-employed workers were around 5%.

PIs working as independent contractors or business owners charge either a flat fee or an hourly charge for each assignment:

• Flat Fee: Flat fees are ideal for jobs that are fairly straightforward. For example, the PIs performing different kinds of background checks for an employer would likely charge a flat fee per assignment.
• Hourly Fee: Hourly fees are commonplace in private investigations, and the rates PIs charge may differ depending on the complexity of the job. It’s common for PIs to charge additional fees to cover travel expenses, airfare, car rental, hotel, and per diem, in addition to an hourly fee.

PIs charging an hourly fee often require a retainer (an initial deposit) before accepting a case. The amount of the retainer often varies according to the amount of time the PI expects the case to take and is used to pay the PI’s billable hours and other expenses. Billable hours include active working hours, as well as hours that are spent making phone calls, drafting documents, researching, printing, and traveling, among others. PIs often charge higher hourly rates for evening and weekend work.

Salary Trends in Private Investigations

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides a complete breakdown of what you can expect to earn as a private investigator based on surveys of professionals with active licenses working in the field. Surveys provide a snapshot that can be very accurate for certain industries where PIs more often receive steady paychecks as payroll employees as opposed to working as independent investigators that charge set fees or certain services or bil out hourly. Surveys are only limited by the fact that they are voluntary, so they represent information from investigators that made the decision to share information on what they earn.

As of May 2020, the average annual income for PIs nationwide was $60,100. The highest earners in the field (top 10%)—often those with a lot of experience and some formal education— earned an average income of $96,950 during this time.

You’ll likely be among the top paid private investigators in the nation if you work in one of the following industries, which reported the highest annual mean wages for PIs in 2020:

• Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution: $92,900
• Rail transportation: $63,060
• Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities: $80,240
• Insurance carriers: $76,440
• Telecommunications: $ 71,270

As expected, the state of California – the epicenter of business, industry, and government – came in at the top of the list for its pay of PIs, followed closely by Virginia, where personal wealth and some of the nation’s largest corporations create a lot of demand for private investigators.

The following states reported the highest average annual salaries for PIs:

• Washington D.C.: $96,950
• California: $70,350
• Texas: $67,420
• Pennsylvania : $49,200
• Illinois: $ 65,670

The top-paying metro areas in terms of annual mean wages were:

• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $ 56,090
• New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $ 54,970
• Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: $ 66,720
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL: $ 58,520
• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: $ 65,580
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: $ 77,690
• Richmond, VA: $ 49,070
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX: $ 50,810
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $ 88,550

In 2020, these were the following non-metropolitan areas came out among the nation’s top-paying in the nation, according to annual mean wage:

• Central Missouri: $58,864
• Southwest Louisiana: $46,900
• South Georgia: $39,200

Factors that Can Influence What PIs Earn

Not all PIs can and do charge the same hourly/assignment fee, just as not all salaried PIs are paid the same. In the field of private investigations, experience and formal investigative training is everything. Investigators with extensive backgrounds in investigations and law enforcement, and those with formal college degrees in areas like criminal justice often command higher pay.

And that’s not just the case with independent investigators. Many employers look for candidates who come to the table with both education and relevant professional experience, while others have much higher starting offers and pay scales for investigators with comprehensive resumes showcasing both formal education and relevant job experience.

Experience:

Private investigations is largely the domain of retired and former police officers, detectives, criminal investigators, and military personnel. And with their extensive experience in the field and deep understanding of the legal process, private investigations are a natural fit for these professionals.

Even for those without law enforcement or military backgrounds, experience can be gained working in a support role for a licensed PI, conducting public records investigations for law offices or government agencies, or even with companies that routinely perform investigations for the purpose of vetting contractors and new hires or verifying claimant statements as is the case with insurance companies. Investigative experience of any kind goes a long way towards building your resume and positioning yourself as an expert in the field – something that you’ll need if you expect to charge a premium for your services.

Plus, in many states, experience in investigations isn’t just preferred – it’s required to become licensed. For example, in California, you’ll need at least three years of investigative experience of this sort under your belt before you can qualify for state licensure.

Even for those without law enforcement or military backgrounds, experience can be gained working in a support role for a licensed PI, conducting public records investigations for law offices or government agencies, or even with companies that routinely perform investigations for the purpose of vetting contractors and new hires or verifying claimant statements as is the case with insurance companies. Investigative experience of any kind goes a long way towards building your resume and positioning yourself as an expert in the field – something that you’ll need if you expect to charge a premium for your services.

Plus, in many states, experience in investigations isn’t just preferred – it’s required to become licensed. For example, in California, you’ll need at least three years of investigative experience of this sort under your belt before you can qualify for state licensure.

Education:

Private investigators who have achieved a solid understanding of the law and criminal justice system through an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law, police science or a related field often command a higher pay.

An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in an area related to investigations or criminal justice can also be very helpful when taking the state licensing exams required in some states. And in many states, a degree can substitute for some of the experience required for licensure. For example, in California, an associate’s degree in criminal justice, criminal law, or police science can be substituted for a half year of experience, while a law degree or a bachelor’s in police science can be substituted for one year of experience.

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Specialization:

Although many private investigators choose to offer general investigative services, perhaps just as many choose to focus their careers on one or more areas of specialization. Individual clients and companies that perform investigations in the course of their business may seek out—and pay more for—private investigators who come with expert knowledge (through education and/or experience) in a particular area like:

• Criminal investigation
• Terrorism and intelligence
• Computer forensics
• Marital investigation
• Nursing home abuse investigation
• Insurance investigation
• Pre-employment/employee investigations

Professional Association Membership or Certification:

Membership/certification in a professional association is a sure-fire way to set yourself apart from the competition, position yourself as a leader in your field, and command higher fees or paychecks, as the case may be. It’s also where you’ll find outstanding opportunities to network, participate in training and education classes and events, come together with your colleagues through workshops and conferences, and stay up-to-date on the latest legislative changes to the profession. Not only does membership in a professional association allow you to display a commitment to your profession, it adds another layer of credibility.

You’ll find many great opportunities to get involved through state-level professional membership associations. At the national level, ASIS is a big name in security and private investigations, with a membership of more than 34,000.

PIs holding the ASIS Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) credential have shown an advanced level of training in evidence collection, case management, and preparation of reports and testimony. To qualify for the PCI credential, you must have at least five years of investigative experience, which includes at least two years in case management, and you must pass a certification exam.

2021 Job Trends and Hourly Pay Rate

Recent job postings (June 2021) provide valuable insight into what employers are paying private investigators in different areas of the country. But more than that, it gives a sense of who is hiring investigators into the more traditional salaried and hourly positions – from local and regional PI agencies to larger outfits that contract their services out to both private companies and government agencies to private security firms to specialized firms that work to vet prospective private sector and government employees for positions that involve working with sensitive information:

• Cybercrime Private Investigator, Universal Investigations Agency, Chicago, IL: $32.19/hour
• Surveillance Investigator, DigiStream Investigations, Inc., Charlotte, NC: $30.16/hour
• Field Investigator, Coburn Investigative Agency, Jacksonville, FL: $28.39/hour
• Entry-Level Field Investigator, DigiStream Investigations, Denver, CO: $31. 09/hour

Private Investigators Salaries by State*

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a breakdown of the number of licensed PIs by state, along with the range of salaries in each location (median- top 10%):

• Alabama: $51,690-$96,970 (approximately 240 licensed PIs)
• Alaska: $56,800 – $87,850 (approximately 80 PIs)
• Arizona: $53,180 – $90,070 (approximately 370 licensed PIs)
• Arkansas: $54,260 – $69,480 (approximately 160 licensed PIs)
• California: $64,110 – $106,300 (approximately 3,390 licensed PIs)
• Colorado: $49,550 – $81,150 (approximately 410 licensed PIs)
• Connecticut: $61,570 – $80,390 (approximately 490 licensed PIs)
• Delaware: $64,480 – $84,790 (approximately 260 licensed PIs)
• District of Columbia: $70,570 – $99,380 (approximately 150 licensed PIs)
• Florida: $36,180 – $64,900 (approximately 4,350 licensed PIs)
• Georgia: $49,610 – $78,550 (approximately 980 licensed PIs)
• Idaho: $60,490 – $83,140 (approximately 60 PIs)
• Illinois: $57,000 – $91,420 (approximately 1,180 licensed PIs)
• Indiana: $37,530 – $60,780 (approximately 440 licensed PIs)
• Iowa: (approximately 100 licensed PIs)
• Kansas: $51,520 – $82,740 (approximately 150 licensed PIs)
• Kentucky: $48,690 – $76,170 (approximately 240 licensed PIs)
• Louisiana: $46,610 – $68,930 (approximately 480 licensed PIs)
• Maine: $51,230 – $77,790 (approximately 40 licensed PIs)
• Maryland: $59,56 – $96,320
• Massachusetts: $56,250 – $84,250 (approximately 530 licensed PIs)
• Michigan: $43,400 – $74,330 (approximately 740 licensed PIs)
• Mississippi: $53,910 – $79,310 (approximately 140 PIs)
• Missouri: $57,220 – $91,610 (approximately 300 licensed PIs)
• Nebraska: $41,210 – $64,610 (approximately 320 licensed PIs)
• Nevada: $69,780 – $85,050 (approximately 340 licensed PIs)
• New Hampshire: $51,780 – $98,930 (approximately 150 licensed PIs)
• New Jersey: $62,800 – $98,520 (approximately 810 licensed PIs)
• New Mexico: $56,900 – $78,910 (approximately 70 licensed PIs)
• New York: $53,700 – $85,040 (approximately 1,480 licensed PIs)
• North Carolina: $48,570 – $78,420 (approximately 680 licensed PIs)
• Ohio: $47,690 – $73,870 (approximately 1,510 licensed PIs)
• Oklahoma: $39,570 – $68,330 (approximately 260 licensed PIs)
• Oregon: $54,290 – $73,670 (approximately 390 licensed PIs)
• Pennsylvania: $43,390 – $76,170 (approximately 3,330 licensed PIs)
• Rhode Island: $51,950 – $90,000 (approximately 50 licensed PIs)
• South Carolina: $53,570 – $75,340 (approximately 200 licensed PIs)
• South Dakota: $45,840 – $67,020 (approximately 80 PIs)
• Tennessee: $52,410 – $101,970 (approximately 680 licensed PIs)
• Texas: $57,550 – $77,930 (approximately 2,260 licensed PIs)
• Utah: $51,570 – $118,280 (approximately 130 licensed PIs)
• Virginia: $47,770 – $96,010
• Washington: $52,340 – $99,500
• West Virginia: $ – $ (approximately 130 licensed PIs)
• Wisconsin: $42,590 – $63,860 (approximately 340 licensed PIs)

*May 2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Salary and Job Market Figures for Private Detectives and Investigators reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2021..

Examples of private investigator positions were taken from a survey of job listings in June 2020 and are shown for illustrative purposes only. These examples do not represent job offers or positions that are currently available.

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Crime Scene Investigator Salary

Degree CompletedHigh School Diploma/GEDSome CollegeAssociate DegreeBachelor’s DegreeMaster’s DegreeDoctorate Degree

Desired DegreeDiploma/CertificateAssociate DegreeBachelor’s DegreeMaster’s DegreeDoctorate

Program of InterestAll Criminal Justice ProgramsCriminal JusticeCyber SecurityEmergency ManagementForensicsHomeland SecurityInternational Relations/Global AffairsLaw & ParalegalLaw EnforcementSocial Work

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Crime scenes aren’t pretty, but in the eyes of CSIs, they’re a bounty of evidence waiting to be harvested. Identifying, preserving, and collecting evidence at the crime scene remain their sole focus. Using the skills they’ve acquired and honed through careers in law enforcement and training in forensic science, they maintain the integrity of the evidence that gets collected to ensure it paints a clear and true portrait of the crime that took place there.

Earning potential in crime scene investigations tends to be strong, but the higher salaries almost always go to professionals with more formal education and those within larger police agencies. This is a career where earning your dues is a must and higher education is a basic expectation, but with the right training and time in the field, you can expect some handsome paychecks.

Salaries for Crime Scene Investigators

Salaries for CSIs in the FBI’s Evidence Response Team

Salaries for Crime Scene Investigators, by State

Salaries for Crime Scene Investigators

According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), crime scene investigators (classified by BLS in a broader category inclusive of forensic science technicians, crime scene analysts, and criminalists) earned an average salary of $59,150 as of May 2019. The top earners in the field (top 10%) earned $97,350 during this time.

The Role Experience, Education, and Industry Play in CSI Salaries

Most crime scene investigators above the technician level are mid-career professionals who have paid their dues in law enforcement as police officers. This means most CSIs are sworn officers with at least a handful of years of experience, and in many smaller police departments, they often hold the dual title of police officer/crime scene investigator.

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A lack of consistency in the professional ranks from department to department can make it a bit difficult to pinpoint accurate salaries at different levels, but what emerges from the data is the fact that those with more advanced degrees almost always bring home bigger paychecks than their colleagues with associate’s degrees or certificates in crime scene investigations. Professionals with bachelor’s degrees in a field related to forensic science remain the most sought after in the profession, while senior leaders and supervisors often have graduate degrees in areas like forensic chemistry, forensic science, and biomedical forensic science front and center on their resume.

Experience also remains a big factor when it comes to earning potential in the field. For example, a police officer with a decade of experience will naturally earn more as a crime scene investigator than someone who’s been in law enforcement for just a few years. Similarly, someone who’s earned their stripes as a crime scene investigator and has a long history of outstanding crime scene work will demand a higher salary than someone who’s relatively new to the field.

You’ll find some variation among CSI salaries based on location, usually due to cost of living differences. For example, it comes as no surprise that the BLS reports California as the top-paying state in the nation for crime scene investigators, with an annual, mean salary of $87,200. Other states that come out on top for average pay include:

• Illinois: $82,130
• Massachusetts: $76,950
• Alaska: $72,380
• Virginia: $69,260

The biggest difference in pay can be attributed to the size of the agency employer, whether it’s directly with a state or county agency or regional crime lab. Again, no surprise here: many of the nation’s largest metro areas which, of course, are home to some of the largest police agencies and crime labs, come out on top for CSI pay:

• San Francisco, CA (also include Oakland and Hayward): $103,940
• Oxnard, CA (also include Thousand Oaks and Ventura): $91,790
• Sacramento, CA (also includes Roseville, Arden, and Arcade): $90,670
• Toledo, OH: $85,320
• Washington D.C. (also includes Arlington and Alexandria, VA): $85,140
• Boston, MA (includes Cambridge): $82,850

Of course, you’ll find salary differences between CSIs working for federal, state, and local agencies too. For example, BLS stats show that federal CSIs with the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies earned an annual, mean salary of $111,180 as of May 2019, while those in state and local police agencies earned $62,470 and $64,700, respectively.

Salaries for CSIs in the FBI’s Evidence Response Team

Crime scene investigators in the FBI (called special agents, logistic management specialists, forensic operations specialists, and more) are part of the Evidence Response Team (ERT) program, which has teams in all 56 FBI field offices. These forensic teams descend upon what the FBI refers to as “complex crime scenes and catastrophic world events” to collect and preserve evidence. Plane crashes, bombings, terrorist events, and the like are all in the realm of the work of the ERT.

They are national and world leaders in crime scene processing and must adhere to the highest standards of safety, expertise, equipment, training, and capability. Land a job in the FBI’s ERT and chances are you’ll be counted among the highest paid crime scene investigators in the country.

While education and experience requirements vary based on the position, you’ll be expected to have experience in a number of areas, such as evidence recovery, preservation procedures, investigative and operational methods. Specialty positions within the ERT include working with hazardous materials and require skills related to maritime, swift water, dive support, trenching, and shoring.

As a governmental agency, the FBI follows the General Schedule (GS)-the pay scale for all federal employees. The GS features 15 pay grades (G-1 to G-15) and ten pay steps within each grade. Based on the most current FBI information, positions with the ERT start at the GS-9 level, with higher salaries based on education and experience.

The 2020 GS schedule is as follows:

• GS-9: $45,627 – $59,316
• GS-10: $50,246 – $65,321
• GS-11: $55,204 – $71,764
• GS-12: $66,167 – $86,021
• GS-13: $78,681 – $102,288
• GS-14: $92,977 – $120,868
• GS-15: $109,366 – $142,180

Salaries for Crime Scene Investigators, by State

Learn more about what crime scene investigators in your state were earning at the 50^th and 90^thpercentiles, as of May 2019 (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics):

• Alabama: $47,400 – $62,000 (approximately 160 forensic science technicians)
• Alaska: $69,480 – $97,740 (approximately 50 forensic science technicians)
• Arizona: $58,830 – $92,000 (approximately 700 forensic science technicians)
• Arkansas: $45,970 – $53,560 (approximately 160 forensic science technicians)
• California: $82,070 – $130,030 (approximately 2,150 forensic science technicians)
• Colorado: $65,040 – $93,620 (approximately 330 forensic science technicians)
• Connecticut: $71,980 – $90,960 (approximately 110 forensic science technicians)
• Florida: $52,480 – $78,980 (approximately 1,680 forensic science technicians)
• Georgia: $45,630 – $75,690 (approximately 560 forensic science technicians)
• Hawaii: $55,070 – $76,040 (approximately 80 forensic science technicians)
• Illinois: $89,400 – $102,150 (approximately 410 forensic science technicians)
• Indiana: $62,760 – $86,980 (approximately 380 forensic science technicians)
• Kansas: $49,040 – $74,150 (approximately 400 forensic science technicians)
• Kentucky: $46,370 – $70,560 (approximately 70 forensic science technicians)
• Louisiana: $45,600 – $78,020 (approximately 230 forensic science technicians)
• Maine: $61,290 – $71,240 (approximately 30 forensic science technicians)
• Maryland: $63,500 – $108,990 (approximately 440 forensic science technicians)
• Massachusetts: $74,700 – $118,040 (approximately 80 forensic science technicians)
• Michigan: $69,810 – $94,040 (approximately 360 forensic science technicians)
• Minnesota: $60,070 – $89,580 (approximately 90 forensic science technicians)
• Mississippi: $50,680 – $66,180 (approximately 110 forensic science technicians)
• Missouri: $52,310 – $75,790 (approximately 350 forensic science technicians)
• Montana: $68,320 – $79,170 (approximately 50 forensic science technicians)
• Nebraska: $52,420 – $71,930 (approximately 110 forensic science technicians)
• Nevada: $62,650 – $98,340 (approximately 380 forensic science technicians)
• New Hampshire: $72,810 – $82,870 (approximately 50 forensic science technicians)
• New Jersey: $57,750 – $96,990 (approximately 100 forensic science technicians)
• New Mexico: $36,830 – $78,660 (approximately 240 forensic science technicians)
• New York: $65,030 – $93,500 (approximately 860 forensic science technicians)
• North Carolina: $45,700 – $65,520 (approximately 440 forensic science technicians)
• Ohio: $66,630 – $92,380 (approximately 460 forensic science technicians)
• Oklahoma: $58,340 – $80,600 (approximately 210 forensic science technicians)
• Oregon: $70,910 – $85,880 (approximately 250 forensic science technicians)
• Pennsylvania: $47,930 – $76,230 (approximately 300 forensic science technicians)
• South Carolina: $39,410 – $61,060 (approximately 150 forensic science technicians)
• South Dakota: $35,300 – $62,600 (approximately 40 forensic science technicians)
• Tennessee $51,150 – $78,340 (approximately 510 forensic science technicians)
• Texas: $52,670 – $84,110 (approximately 1,480 forensic science technicians)
• Virginia: $67,230 – $106,670 (approximately 440 forensic science technicians)
• Washington: $64,580 – $86,860 (approximately 400 forensic science technicians)
• West Virginia: $41,420 – $67,280 (approximately 110 forensic science technicians)
• Wisconsin: $52,110 – $86,370 (approximately 250 forensic science technicians)
• Wyoming: $50,370 – $79,150 (approximately 50 forensic science technicians)

Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2019. Figures represent accumulated data for all employment sectors in which forensic science technicians work. BLS salary data represents average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. 

All salary and employment data accessed August 2020.

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My profession is an investigator | ConsultantPlus

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online interview with Zuev Alexander Andreevich, investigator of the Tushino Interdistrict Department of the Investigative Department of the North-Western District of Moscow

On the features of the profession investigator, his duties and necessary qualities, the editors of the site edu. consultant.ru talked with Alexander Zuev, an investigator of the Tushino Interdistrict Department of the Investigation Department for the North-Western Administrative District of Moscow.

ConsultantPlus: In the minds of most people, the profession of an investigator is surrounded by an aura of mystery and romance. Unraveling mysterious crimes, chasing, spying, catching dangerous criminals – all this excites the imagination and attracts the attention of many people. How true is this idea of ​​the profession? Who is the real investigator? What is more in this profession: risk, creativity or paperwork?

Alexander Zuev: After graduating from the institute, I came to work in the investigation department on a voluntary basis. A few months later, I began to understand a little about working moments, discovered a lot of new and interesting things. Since I was assigned to a certain investigator, I helped him mainly. Having worked a sufficient amount of time on a voluntary basis, I definitely decided for myself that I wanted to be an investigator. Having passed the difficult path from a public assistant to an investigator, I was appointed to the position of an investigator in one of the districts of the city of Moscow. Indeed, the investigator is engaged in “unraveling crimes”, but not in any way “chase and surveillance.” This, on behalf of the investigator, is carried out by operational officers. The investigator is the leader who directs the course of the investigation and makes decisions on the production of investigative and other procedural actions.

Consultant Plus: Tell us what your unit does, what cases does it investigate, which ones are priorities? How are responsibilities usually distributed within the investigation team?

Alexander Zuev: The Investigation Department where I work, like other district divisions, is investigating various categories of cases. Basically, these are criminal cases initiated for the commission of grave and especially grave crimes, such as, for example, murder or sexual assault. In addition to this category of cases, investigators investigate all, without exception, cases of crimes committed by officials, as well as grave and especially grave crimes committed both by minors and against them. You can learn more about the categories of criminal cases investigated by investigators of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation by reading Art. 151 Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation.

As for the priority of cases, it can be noted that, first of all, attention is paid to cases where the victims or defendants are minors. These cases are of particular complexity, if only because the production of investigative actions on them requires an additional circle of participants, provided for by the criminal procedure legislation of the Russian Federation.

In the investigation team, duties are always distributed differently and depend directly on the instructions of the head of the investigation team.

Consultant Plus: Please share your experience: how do you become an investigator? What qualities, knowledge and skills should he have? What is the selection procedure? What work experience should the applicant have?

Alexander Zuev: After graduating from the university and having a direct acquaintance with the work of an investigator, to be honest, at first I was a little confused. When studying at the university, the greatest emphasis is placed on theory. However, when faced with the work of an investigator for the first time, you understand that theory is not the most important thing here. The main task is to understand the specifics of this difficult work, to learn how to practically fulfill the duties of an investigator, which are never enough. First of all, the applicant for the position of an investigator must be purposeful, stress-resistant and unemotional. Sociability and the ability to find a common language with everyone, without exception, are also mandatory qualities for an investigator. Not to mention the fact that the investigator is, first of all, a subtle psychologist and a good artist.

As for the selection procedure for a position, this is done directly by the heads of departments and specialists from the personnel department.

ConsultantPlus: Can a young specialist who has just graduated from a law school apply for the position of an investigator? What area of ​​work is most often entrusted to young professionals and what responsibility is placed on them?

Alexander Zuev: Of course, it is a young specialist who should apply for the position of an investigator, since after graduation he must apply the acquired knowledge in practice. After being appointed to the position of an investigator, the heads of the unit entrust young professionals with less complex tasks, for example, investigating not the most serious crimes. Subsequently, the workload increases, and during this period, the nature of the investigator and his main working qualities usually develop.

ConsultantPlus: What are the career prospects for a young specialist in the investigating authorities, what success can he achieve if he wants to?

Alexander Zuev: Prospects depend only on the desire and abilities of a young specialist and nothing else. After two years of work as an investigator of the district department, you can apply for the position of an investigator in the district investigation department, where criminal cases of a different category of complexity are being investigated.

ConsultantPlus: What duties do you personally perform in your line of work? How does your work day usually go?

Alexander Zuev: The main duty of the investigator is to comply with the deadlines for the preliminary investigation, always be on time and avoid red tape in criminal cases and inspection materials. Usually the working day starts at 09:00 and ends at about 22:00. The work schedule is not standardized and depends only on the performance of the work. In addition to the usual working hours, there is also duty as part of the SOG (investigative-operational group), when the investigator on duty travels to the scene of incidents, where he conducts investigative actions.

Counselor Plus: How long does it take to investigate a crime? If during this period the investigation has reached a dead end, what happens next?

Alexander Zuev: The term for the investigation of a criminal case is established by the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation and is 2 months. It is during this time that the investigator must carry out all investigative actions, collect evidence, and then send the UD (criminal case) to the prosecutor for approval of the indictment. Of course, there are criminal cases that require more time for investigation, then the period of preliminary investigation can be extended.

Consultant Plus: The investigator often has to go to the crime scene. How do you manage to maintain composure and composure? Can this be learned?

Alexander Zuev: Yes, quite often the investigator has to go to the scene of incidents. On duty days, there are up to 5 trips day and night. Depending on the type of incident and if the offender is identified, then after examining the scene with the participation of specialists, further investigative actions take place in the investigation department, where the offender, victims and witnesses are brought, with whom they have to work at any time of the day. The main thing is to be calm about everything. Indeed, you can see various terrible things, but first of all, you need to pull yourself together and carry out investigative actions. It happens that at the scene you can find a body that has lain in the apartment for about two weeks. Imagine the smell in such a room! But, despite this, you need to work and find out all the reasons for what happened in order to make a legitimate and reasonable decision in the future. Learning to control oneself, to maintain self-control is possible only in the process of work. And the longer you work, the harder it is to be surprised that a simple, unprepared person can enter into a state of shock.

ConsultantPlus: What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of your work? How often do you have to take risks, respond to threats?

Alexander Zuev: During my work, I have not received any threats. In fact, I do not observe any shortcomings in the profession, I simply do not have time for this. Yes, sometimes it’s difficult. Sometimes you want to drop everything and go to work in a quiet place. But this desire passes quickly when you realize the full significance of your work.

ConsultantPlus: Do you think it is necessary for an investigator to know computer programs, for example, legal reference systems? If yes, then why?

Alexander Zuev: A computer is a mandatory device that an investigator must use, since all procedural forms of protocols and decisions are drawn up with its help.

Personally, I use the legal reference system ConsultantPlus, with which I got experience at the institute. It is very convenient to own the legislative base, which is always relevant.

ConsultantPlus: What advice would you give to law students who aspire to work in investigative bodies, but know about the work of investigators mostly only from films and series? What do they need to prepare for right now, what literature to read, what sciences to study in order to succeed in this difficult work?

Alexander Zuev: I confess that I have not seen a single film or series that would reflect the real work of an investigator. But I think that a young specialist who graduated from the institute and decided for himself that he wants to become an investigator should think carefully and be sure to try his hand on a voluntary basis, having completed an internship in the investigation department, and then make an informed choice.

ConsultantPlus: Alexander, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!

Interview prepared by
Correspondent of the company “ConsultantPlus” A. Epifanova

Profession investigator

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Salary of Police Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the USA

In previous articles, we talked about how much forensic experts and police officers earn in the USA.

This time we look at the salaries of detectives and criminal investigators. Interestingly, detectives and criminal investigators have positions at both the local, state and federal levels. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we analyzed and compiled a survey of the average wages of detectives in each US state. Read on for the full breakdown of where detectives earn the most and where they earn the least.

10 states that earn the most detectives and criminal investigators

The average annual salary for a detective and criminal investigator in the United States is $86,030, which is $30,000 more than the average salary for all professions of $51,960. The No. 1 employer for detectives and criminal investigators is local government, excluding schools and hospitals, which account for 42,860 jobs out of a national total of 105,620. However, the highest paid employer is the US federal executive branch, which has an average salary of $107,150 for detectives and criminal investigators.

Below is a list of the top 10 highest paid states for detectives and criminal investigators:

• Average salary for a detective in Alaska: $113,420
• Average salary for a detective in Hawaii: $109,320
• Average salary for a detective in California 7:6 $ 90,004 90,003 Average salary for a detective in New Jersey: $103,460 90,004 90,003 Average salary for a detective in Massachusetts: $102,350 90,004 90,003 Average salary for a detective in Maryland: $102,170
• Average salary for a detective in Virginia: $98,960 90,004 90,003 Average salary for a detective in Washington: $97,770 90,004 90,003 Average salary for a detective in Oregon: $94,590 90,004 90,003 Average salary for a detective in Delaware: $92,790 90,012 where detectives and criminal investigators earn the least

  The 10 states where detectives and criminal investigators earn the least are mostly concentrated in the US South, as well as two states in the Midwest. At the same time, the average salary of detectives in the lowest paid state – South Carolina, is still slightly higher than the average salary for all professions. Take a look at the states with the worst salaries for detectives.

  • Average detective salary in South Carolina: $59,410
  • Average detective salary in North Carolina: $61,880
  • Average detective salary in Arkansas: $60,340
  • Average detective salary in Kansas: $62,004 Louisiana detective salary: $63,980 90,004 90,003 Mississippi detective average salary: $64,100 90,004 90,003 Alabama detective average salary: $65,830 90,004
  • Average detective salary in Oklahoma: $65,930 90,004 90,003 Average detective salary in Georgia: $67,820 90,004 90,003 Average detective salary in Indiana: $69,960 90,004 90,011 90,012 find the average annual salary of detectives and criminal investigators in all states where data was available for the period 2014 to 2019. The states that have seen the largest increase in average detective wages are a rather unusual combination. West Virginia ranks first, average detective salary up 56.2%, from $57,410 in 2014 to $89$690 in 2019. Massachusetts comes in second with 35.8% growth, followed by Kentucky’s 20.6% growth over the past five years.

    Average annual salary for detectives

    Average annual salary for US detectives and criminal investigators, 2014-2019

    $ 58,6

    9020,4% 9%0255

    $ 86.430

    0254 $82,750

    0

    11.0%

    92550255

    ,0254,4204,4204 14.8.8%

    0.8%0255

    $ 79,000

    9025.250

    State	Place	2019 salary	2018 Average annual salary	2017
    Alaska	1	$113,420	$118,360	$116,130	$113,960	$112,000	$111,970	1.3%
    Arizona	21	$83,650	$81,810	$79,380	$76,650	$ 74.840	$ 84.730	-1.3%
    Arkansas	48	$ 62,210	$ 60.340	$57,550	$56,590	$54,010	15. 2%
    California	3	$107,760	$107,120	$103,810	$100,360	$97,000	$98,940	8.9%
    Colorado	13	$90,680	$87,280	$86,330	$84,190	$83,110	$82,680	9.7%
    Connecticut	12	$91,430	$90,470	$90,770	$88,850	$86,040	$81,220	12.6%
    Delaware	10	$92,790	$89,930	$91,770	$93,250	$92,710	$ 100.550	-7.7%
    Florida	33	$ 76.220	$ 76.560	$ 74,180	$ 75.6250	$75,350	$73,670	3.5%
    Georgia	42	$67,820	$66,430	$66,130	$63,490	$62,480	$61,480	10. 3%
    Hawaii	2	$109,320	$107,010	N/A	$101,080	$96,450	$91,180	19.9% ​​
    Idaho	35	$74,680	$73,510	$69,940	$67,790	$65,570	$65,560	13.9%
    Illinois	19	$86,910	$87,470	$90,890	$92,360	$91,860	$90,350	-3.8%
    Indiana	41	$ 69.960	$ 75.150	$ 71.960		$ 63.67 $ 63.67 $ 63.654 $ 63.654 $ 63.67 $ 63.0254 11.7%
    Iowa	37	$73,120	$73,320	$74,440	$76,560	$77,040	$71,890	1.7%
    Kansas	47	$63,980	$62,260	$60,110	$59,070	$57,920	$58,500	9. 4%
    Kentucky	32	$76,650	$71,300	$72,300	$69,540	$65,900	$63,580	20.6%
    Louisiana	46	$64,100	$65,090	$63,420	$61,580	$60,990	$59,210	8.3%
    Maine	38	$ 73,040	$ 70.620	$ 69,270	$ 67.410	$ 65.830		6	$102,170	$102,370	$99,880	$98,300	$96,410	$95,530	7.0%
    Massachusetts	5	$102,350	$101,800	$93,480	$84,140	$81,740	$ 75.370	35.8%
    Michigan	15	$ 88.580	$ 86.580	$ 84,190	$ 86. 430	$86,590	2.3%
    Minnesota	25	$80,560	$76,640	$77,660	$73,200	$73,600	$75,850	6.2%
    Mississippi	45	$65,330	$ 64.150	$ 61.570	$ 59,660	$ 56.570	$ 54.510	1	$73,480	$70,860	$68,280	$68,370	$69,800	$68,030	8.0%
    Montana	24	$81,220	$81,210	$79,580	$77,560	$75,130	$77,220	5.0254 $74,830	-0.1%
    Nevada	18	$87,010	$87,680	$85,000	$83,050	$80,950	$81,500	6.8%
    New Hampshire	27	$80,340	$80,370	$79,740	$76,660	$74,540	$73,260	9. 7%
    New Jersey	4	$103,460	$102,600	$100,980	$99,180	$98,940	$99,600	3.9%
    New Mexico	31	$77,170	$77,890	$77,360	$77,000	$75,170	$78,550	-1.8 %
    New York	11	$ 92,600	$ 91,250	$ 88,320	$ 85.92,18,92,18,92,18,92,18,92,18,92,000 $ 85.92.0255	4.9%
    North Carolina	49	$61,880	$60,810	$59,730	$57,900	$55,710	$54,610	13.3%
    North Dakota	29	$78,920	$84,340	$84,970	$83,490	$77,870	$81,300	-2.9%
    Ohio	30	$77,770	$75,310	$72,500	$70,670	$69,740	$70,030	11. 1%
    Oklahoma	43	$65,930	$66,130	$66,600	$67,370	$68,240	$60,460	9.0%
    OREGON	9	$ 94.590	$ 93,840	$ 92.550	$ 86.080		$ 81.470 9.10205	Pennsylvania	16	$87,460	$85,730	$84,990	$82,660	$81,180	$81,050	7.9%
    Rhode Island	17	$87,100	$86,580	$85,780	$86,790	$ 82.720	$ 78.460
    South Carolina	50	$ 59.410	$ 60.420	$61,080	$60,950	$58,150	2.2%
    South Dakota	39	$71,580	$72,050	$73,580	$71,400	$69,380	$68,320	4. 8%
    Tennessee	40	$ 71.090	$ 71.940	$ 70.060	$ 69,500	$ 62.510
    28	$79,490	$79,950	$77,530	$75,350	$73,650	$77,630	2.4%
    Utah	22	$82,930	$80,840	$77,310	$75,230	$73,030	$ 71.670	15.7%
    Vermont	200255	$ 84,700	$ 83.060	$ 79,000	$ 79,000	$ 79,000	$ 79,000	0255	$81,550	3.9%
    Virginia	7	$98,960	$98,850	$94,800	$94,210	$92,610	$89,870	10.1%
    Washington	8	$97,770	$ 85. 440	$ 83.610	$ 83.050	$ 81,130	$ 94,660	3.3%
    Westinia	14 90	14 9025 9,690	$86,340	$76,200	$81,540	$59,760	$57,410	56.2%
    Wisconsin	26	$80,410	$76,590	$75,220	$73,280	$74,390	$69,870	15.1 %
    WYOMING	23	$ 81,890	$ 81.750	$ 77,120	$ 74.2520 $ 74.2520 $ 74.25200255	12.9%

    Chart: Andrew DePietro Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Download chart

    Text author: Andrew DePietro

    Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewdepietro/2020/05/31/31 detectives-salary-state/

    Publication author

    Assistant investigator of the Ryazan Investigative Committee: Now I know that a person is an unpredictable creature

    Komsomolskaya Pravda

    0015

    July 25, 2019 23:10

    Tatiana Syomina talks about how she got into the profession, how she went abroad for the first time and why she began to treat people with caution

    Tatiana Syomina at the workplace.

    On July 25, Russia celebrates the Day of the Investigators of the Russian Federation – usually on this professional holiday a lot is written about investigators, high-profile crimes, but …

    We are all used to the fact that train drivers work on the railway. Trains rush through the fog, through the rain, in order to deliver passengers and cargo according to the schedule. Strong men stand at the helm… But somewhere behind their backs, far away at the stations, dispatchers are doing an equally important job. It is they who know where, when and in what way to send the train. They make sure that there are no collisions and other troubles.

    Ask why these railway reflections in the article about the Investigative Committee? The fact is that investigative activity is something akin to a railway. In every investigative department there is a person who knows where, when and “which way” the papers should go. Perhaps his position will not make a strong impression at the first mention – an assistant investigator, but in many ways it is these people that determine the effectiveness of work.

    There is only one assistant investigator in each department – he knows at what stage and with whom the cases are, he knows when everyone needs to issue an extension or make a decision. In fact, this is the same dispatcher at the railway station of justice.

    Tatyana Semina – a sweet and charming girl, Lieutenant of Justice. Since October 2016, she has been working as an assistant investigator of the Railway Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Ryazan ICR in the Ryazan Region.

    Born in 1993 in Iskra village. After graduating from secondary school No. 38 in the city of Ryazan, she entered the law faculty of the Russian State University. S.A. Yesenin. In her third year, Tatyana was offered to work as an assistant (not to be confused with the position of “assistant investigator” – Ed.) in the same place, in the Zheleznodorozhny MSO. And although the salary was very small, she agreed. She came, as she herself says, for experience, for knowledge. Then – after graduating from high school – she became an assistant investigator.

    – In general, the understanding that I would work in this area came quite early, at least from the 10th grade I knew exactly what I wanted, – says our heroine. – My mother worked as an assistant judge and often took me to work with her. I was also present at some court hearings. There was often talk in the family about some moments related to the work of the mother.

    – Work in the Investigative Committee implies familiarity with the most notorious crimes, including massacres. Were you ready for this?

    – To be honest, not really. Mom worked more on civil suits. I faced murders and death already here… At first it was hard to look at the photos from the scenes, to fill in the magazines. You need to understand that I am an assistant investigator, and my work takes place in the office.

    – Perhaps there was something in your work that left a deep mark?

    – I remember the first ride the most. Once I asked the investigator to take me with him to get acquainted with how the work was going. A woman shot herself in the village of Shlakovy… I was there. Creepy! A huge difference is to read reports about the incident, even with photographs, and to visit the scene of the tragedy yourself. It was scary to look at the relatives… Together with the investigator, we conducted an inspection of the scene, compiled a report. But then I realized that I was not ready to work like this every day.

    Here, from the editorial side, we will explain that often an assistant investigator, after working for some time in his position, becomes an investigator himself. There are such examples in the Ryazan Investigative Committee. For example, Elena Filimonova, an assistant to the Korablinsky MCO of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Ryazan region, is now working as an investigator in her own department.

    Tatyana Semina: I can’t imagine myself in another place, in another area

    It happens that an assistant investigator becomes almost the main person of a department. Svetlana Geraskina, assistant investigator of the Mikhailovsky MSO of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Ryazan region, has earned great authority and respect from colleagues throughout the department over the years.

    But let’s get back to the conversation with Tatiana Semina.

    – Is it hard to carry information about so many crippled destinies? Every day you are faced with human pain, has work somehow affected your consciousness?

    – Do you know in what way it influenced? I used to be able to walk calmly through the dark streets at night, but now I’m afraid. I used to think that we are all, first of all, people. Now I know that man is an unpredictable creature. I avoid dark doorways and late hours.

    – Don’t you think about leaving the Investigative Committee and, for example, going, like your mother, into civil proceedings? Still, it’s more peaceful there…

    – I can’t imagine myself in another place, in another sphere. I like everything here very much. It’s like a family. We – helpers – are a bit in the background, but we understand our importance. All people who come to the department go through me. They talk, complain, share… Who else would they go to? My parents support and are proud of me, my husband too. I feel like I belong!

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