How To Become A Lead Investigator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a lead investigator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Gary LaFree

The job of a lead investigator is to gather up information from crime scenes, eyewitnesses and suspects. You are to recover DNA, fingerprints, and other clues from crime scenes. It is also your duty to process, preserve and present evidence in court.

Lead investigators are familiar with laws related to police operations and procedures of investigations. Your responsibilities include carrying out detailed, timely investigations, generating reports, and occasionally testifying in court on required occasions. You also have to make sure that the activities involved in the investigation process are effectively prioritized.

A bachelor's degree in criminology or any related field is required for this role. Applicants with proven work experience and additional certifications are usually more preferred. The skills required for the role of a lead investigator include critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In addition to this, a keen eye for detail & good communication skills are also needed. The average salary of a lead investigator is $50,821 per year.

What general advice would you give to a Lead Investigator?

Gary LaFree

Chair and Professor, University of Maryland

Think about obtaining as much education and training as you can. Be patient. The fundamentals of the economy are relatively strong. Outlet should be much better when we get through the current crisis.

ScoreLead InvestigatorUS Average

Salary

4.7

Avg. Salary $60,060

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.1

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 4.61%

Black or African American 13.21%

Hispanic or Latino 18.25%

Unknown 5.78%

White 57.88%

Gender

female 31.39%

male 68.61%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.3

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a lead investigator

Explore lead investigator education requirements

Most common lead investigator degrees

Bachelor's

63.6 %

Associate

15.1 %

Master's

11.7 %

Start to develop specific lead investigator skills

Skills	Percentages
Law Enforcement Agencies	8.55%
Background Investigations	8.51%
Data Analysis	7.56%
Corrective Action	7.51%
Criminal Justice	7.35%

Complete relevant lead investigator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead investigators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lead investigator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead investigator resumes.

Research lead investigator duties and responsibilities

Manage corporate-wide document production relative to complex litigation cases.
Require to testify at court appearances in response to research pertaining to various types of subpoenas.
Develop procedures for and review incoming referrals from internal departments and subpoenas to determine if a full investigation are warranted.
Ensure effective prioritization of investigation through supervision and monitor & review investigative activity and outcomes using CCTV & by running reports.

Get lead investigator experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a lead investigator. The most common roles before becoming a lead investigator include investigator, police officer team lead and research assistant.

Prepare your lead investigator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead investigator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lead investigator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Lead Investigator Resume templates

Build a professional Lead Investigator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Lead Investigator resume.

Apply for lead investigator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a lead investigator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do lead investigators rate their job?