How Much Does a Private Investigator Make a Year?
When you're thinking about starting off in a particular career or changing from whatever you're doing to something else, one of the first questions you'll probably ask is how much you'll be making in the new career field. The same applies to people who are thinking about going into private investigation.
In this particular field, the level of training that you've received plays an important role in how much money you can make. Although you can expect the less experienced investigator to start off earning less and gradually improve, training can affect how much you earn in the beginning and how well your salary improves with time.
How Private Investigator Training Affects Salary
There are a number of ways that your earning can be affected by the kind of training you've received. These include:
- An established agency or employer may be unwilling to offer a lot of money to someone who can't prove they have any skills needed to be an investigator
- Someone with formal training may be seen as better suited for management positions if a position opens up
- Without training, a private investigator may lack the knowledge needed to operate their own agency. Therefore, they may not go into business on their own.
- Without training, an investigator can't be licensed, and without a license, it's difficult for certain clients to employ you.
- Without training, you may find it hard to get insurance and you could lose money to lawsuits
Why Is Training So Important For An Investigator?
Even when you look at the issue from a purely financial point of view, private investigators without proper training are unlikely to earn as well as their trained colleagues. For starters, it can be difficult for them to find clients because not many people will trust someone who is, not only unlicensed but also untrained. Secondly, without training, an investigator may lack the skills they need to exploit career opportunities. Whether it's a promotion or going into business on their own, these untrained investigators will be at a disadvantage.
Additionally, without training, you can rule out the possibility of getting a license. Having a license greatly improves the marketability of an investigator. It can be even harder for the investigator to get insurance under these circumstances. Therefore, whatever little the untrained investigator makes could also be at risk.
The Link Between Investigator Training And Their Salary
Having proper training makes an investigator easier to hire and also prepares them for career building opportunities. If a private investigator isn't getting hired, they are not making money. This can greatly reduce the earning ability of the private investigator.
A private investigator with training can do much more to market themselves. Additionally, the training can give them skills to take on jobs that the untrained investigator may not be able to handle.