Learn How to Become a Detective

In local, state and federal law enforcement departments, a police detective's job description includes maintaining law and order, collecting evidence and conducting investigations.

Training and Requirements to Become a Detective

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To become a police detective, you must start out as a patrol officer. Patrol officers must pay their dues before moving up the ranks to become detectives. As detective positions open up, a police patrol officer can test for those jobs. The best candidates generally get the detective jobs. Many police departments and law enforcement agencies allow patrol officers to test for detective after 2 to 3 years on the job, but some departments require 5 years of on-the-job experience.

Larger departments may require police detectives to earn 60 units of college credit or an associate's degree. Smaller departments may not require college credit, but a college education may help you earn a higher salary and give you the upper hand when you apply for promotions. If this sounds like the advantage you've been looking for, check out our law enforcement degrees and criminal justice degree programs.

The majority of police departments require applicants to be 20 years old and U.S. citizens. You'll also need a high-school diploma or GED, and some departments may require an associate's degree or bachelor's degree to become a police officer. State and federal agency jobs require applicants to earn a 4-year college degree. Being able to speak a second language is a definite plus for applicants, especially if you plan to work in a multi-racial area. Police officer applicants also undergo a variety of tests including physical and medical fitness, a written exam and psychological testing. Once accepted into a police department, you will attend training at a police academy for 12 weeks to one year depending on the department. It is only with experience and good on-the-job performance that you will be able to become a detective.

Keep in mind that the higher-paying police officer and detective jobs are in more affluent areas and are therefore much more competitive. Make sure to set yourself apart from the competition by earning a college degree before applying for one of those jobs. A college degree will also start you off at a higher salary in many areas. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that applicants with college training in criminal justice or police science should have the best job opportunities.

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Police Detective Salary and Job Outlook

There were 110,380 criminal investigators and police detectives in the U.S. in 2009, and most of them worked for local police departments and the federal government. The BLS predicts that job opportunities in most local police departments will be good, but there will be a lot of competition for police jobs in State and Federal agencies. This is a good reason to earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. The BLS also states that employment growth is expected to be about average for police officers and detectives.

The median criminal investigator and police detective salary was $62,110 in May 2009, but the top 10 percent earned more than $97,870, according to the BLS. The federal executive branch paid an average salary of $75,390, followed by local government ($61,230) and state government ($54,940). The Los Angeles Police Department offers a starting salary of $45,226 for high school graduates. If you have at least 60 college credits with a good GPA, you will start at $47,043. If you have a bachelor's degree, you will start at $48,880. As you can tell, the more education you have, the better your police detective salary will be.

Contact the schools below to ask about their criminal justice degree programs and how they can help you become a detective.