As of June 2026, Private Detectives and Investigators has an AI-exposure score of 63/100 (High exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Private Detectives and Investigators

63/100
High exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 77% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$51,220. About 3,900 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Protective Service roles

Private Detectives and Investigators (you)
63
Security Guards
62
Customs and Border Protection Officers
65
Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
65
Intelligence Analysts
66
Parking Enforcement Workers
60
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable
  • Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
  • Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
  • Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
  • Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
  • Perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.
  • Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions.
  • Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
  • Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
Augmentable
  • Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
  • Alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations.
  • Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
  • Investigate companies' financial standings, or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.
  • Count cash and review transactions, sales checks, or register tapes to verify amounts or to identify shortages.
  • Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
Durable

No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as automatable (57%).

Safer adjacent roles

Detectives and Criminal Investigators
80% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$93,790
58
Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
72% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$81,100
68
Intelligence Analysts
64% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$93,790
66
Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
56% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$42,540
65
Police Identification and Records Officers
48% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$93,790
67
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$76,210
55
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
40% skills overlap · Very High exposure · ~US$78,000
74
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$106,040
57

Your AI-Safe Career Report

Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
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AI was the most-cited reason for U.S. layoffs through mid-2026 — the workers who adapt earliest fare best. — Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2026The upside: Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.