How to hire an Investigator

How to hire an investigator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step investigator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an investigator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new investigator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Investigator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the investigator you need to hire. Certain investigator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an investigator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an investigator that fits the bill.

   This list presents investigator salaries for various positions.

   Type Of Investigator	Description	Hourly Rate
   Investigator	Private detectives and investigators search for information about legal, financial, and personal matters. They offer many services, such as verifying people’s backgrounds and statements, finding missing persons, and investigating computer crimes.	$20-57
   Store Detective	Store detectives are security professionals who are hired by store or business owners to prevent the act of shoplifting. These detectives must conduct surveillance through CCTV to apprehend shoplifters and dishonest employees who committed theft within the store... Show More	$12-19
   Background Investigator	The primary job of background investigators is to conduct background checks into an individual's personal and professional history that can validate or disprove their identity and character. They perform background investigations as part of hiring new employees, making an investment, and choosing a public official... Show More	$13-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Management System
   • Customer Service
   • Criminal Justice
   • Senior Level Management
   • Child Abuse
   • Background Investigations
   • AML
   • Background Checks
   • Insurance Fraud
   • Investigative Reports
   • BSA
   • Child Safety
   • Conduct Investigations

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Participate in and lead the controlled purchase of illegal narcotics and firearms to apprehend suspects.
   • Manage all business reporting to include; payroll, taxes, client billing, account reconciliations and compliance reports.
   • Manage corporate-wide document production relative to complex litigation cases.
   • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
   • Collaborate with federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF and IRS.
   • Write a detail case report, and attach all supporting documentation necessary to write up SAR's where necessary per BSA.

   More Investigator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your investigator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An investigator salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an investigator in Georgia may be lower than in California, and an entry-level investigator usually earns less than a senior-level investigator. Additionally, an investigator with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average investigator salary

   $71,406yearly

   $34.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level investigator salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 31, 2025

   Average investigator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	California	$111,801	$54
   2	District of Columbia	$97,598	$47
   3	Washington	$85,833	$41
   4	Oregon	$85,226	$41
   5	North Carolina	$80,342	$39
   6	Rhode Island	$80,024	$38
   7	Maryland	$79,158	$38
   8	New York	$78,994	$38
   9	Utah	$77,812	$37
   10	Illinois	$75,510	$36
   11	Massachusetts	$69,578	$33
   12	Arkansas	$68,847	$33
   13	Ohio	$67,454	$32
   14	Minnesota	$67,289	$32
   15	Texas	$66,867	$32
   16	Pennsylvania	$65,161	$31
   17	Maine	$64,169	$31
   18	Iowa	$64,113	$31
   19	Missouri	$63,762	$31
   20	Hawaii	$63,388	$30

   Average investigator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Apple	$133,230	$64.05	8
   2	Meta	$132,851	$63.87	32
   3	Microsoft	$126,738	$60.93	1
   4	Novartis	$121,672	$58.50
   5	Mintz	$118,940	$57.18	1
   6	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$118,057	$56.76	3
   7	Credit Suisse	$113,055	$54.35
   8	Cisco	$112,327	$54.00	2
   9	Standard Chartered	$107,023	$51.45
   10	Square	$106,872	$51.38
   11	Fox News	$106,758	$51.33
   12	Agilent Technologies	$105,967	$50.95
   13	Pfizer	$105,608	$50.77
   14	Salt River Project	$105,025	$50.49
   15	Amylin Pharmaceuticals	$101,627	$48.86
   16	Deutsche Bank	$101,119	$48.61
   17	LinkedIn	$100,771	$48.45
   18	Seagate Technology	$99,098	$47.64
   19	Expedia Group	$96,744	$46.51
   20	BNP Paribas	$95,444	$45.89

4. Writing an Investigator Job Description

   An investigator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an investigator job description:

   Investigator job description example

   The SIU Investigator will conduct investigations to effectively pursue the prevention, investigation and prosecution of healthcare fraud and abuse, to recover lost funds, and to comply with state regulations mandating fraud plans and practices. He/She will conduct investigations of known or suspected acts of healthcare fraud and abuse, communicates with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies as appropriate in matters pertaining to the prosecution of specific healthcare fraud cases. This person investigates to prevent payment of fraudulent claims committed by insured's, providers, claimants, customer members, etc. and facilitates the recovery of company and customer money lost as a result of fraud matters.This person provides input regarding controls for monitoring fraud related issues within the business units, delivers educational programs designed to promote deterrence and detection of fraud and minimize losses to the company. Maintains open communication with constituents within and external to the company, uses available resources and technology in developing evidence, supporting allegations of fraud and abuse. Will research and prepare cases for clinical and legal review, documents all appropriate case activity in tracking system, makes referrals, both internal and external, in the required timeframe, cost effectively manages use of outside resources and vendors to perform activities necessary for investigation.Due to the business needs, this person is required to be located in Maryland, which can be Work From Home.
   Required Qualifications
   
   -Strong analytical and research skills. -Proficient in researching information and identifying information resources. -Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong customer service skills. -Ability to interact with different groups of people at different levels and provide assistance on a timely basis. -Proficiency in Word, Excel, MS Outlook products, Database search tools, and use in the Intranet/Internet to research information. -Ability to utilize company systems to obtain relevant electronic documentation.
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   -1-3 years Healthcare Insurance Experience-1-3 years Medicaid or Medicare Experience-1-3 years Healthcare Fraud Investigation Experience-1-3 years' Experience dealing with Law Enforcement-Advanced knowledge of Excel; Excellent communication Skills; Excellent Analytical Skills-Knowledge of Aetna's policies and procedures is an asset
   
   Education
   
   College degree in Criminal Justice or a related field
   
   Business Overview
   
   At Aetna, a CVS Health company, we are joined in a common purpose: helping people on their path to better health. We are working to transform health care through innovations that make quality care more accessible, easier to use, less expensive and patient-focused. Working together and organizing around the individual, we are pioneering a new approach to total health that puts people at the heart.
   
   We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace. CVS Health is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, disability or protected veteran status. We proudly support and encourage people with military experience (active, veterans, reservists and National Guard) as well as military spouses to apply for CVS Health job opportunities.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find investigators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your investigator job on Zippia to find and recruit investigator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with investigator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new investigator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the investigator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new investigator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an investigator?