What are the pros and cons of being a detective?

The pros and cons of being a detective include ones relating to helping people, dangerous working conditions, and salary. Here is a look at the pros and cons of being a detective:

Pros:

• You get to help people

Being a detective means you get to help people in your community by protecting them, upholding the law, solving crimes, and getting criminals off the streets. Detectives can also provide support to their communities during non-crime-related scenarios. When you are a detective it is likely that you will have the opportunity to serve your community in many ways.

• Detectives don't get bored

In general, detectives' jobs can vary from day to day. This helps to keep the profession feeling fresh. They can have different tasks from one day to the next, as well as the need to respond to a myriad of different crimes. Many detectives spend a fair amount of time mainly out in the field at crime scenes and interviewing witnesses. The work is varied and interesting.

• Detectives earn a decent salary

This depends on what state and the police department they work in, but most detectives earn a comfortable living that can provide a good life for themselves and their families. The average salary for a detective in the United States is $84,746 per year.

• Overcoming fears

Another advantage of becoming a detective is that it can help you overcome your fears. Through training and experience, detectives get to build strong mental and emotional fortitude.

• It's a great field of work if you like puzzle-solving

Detectives often have to solve complex criminal puzzles, sometimes without many obvious pieces. The work can be extremely challenging mentally, but it can also be extremely rewarding. When a detective is able to solve a crime they often feel a strong sense of pride.

Cons:

• Being a detective can be dangerous

Though detectives don't have to often respond to dangerous situations where their own lives may be put in jeopardy, like police officers, they can still find themselves in situations where they could be injured or killed. Physical fights and those involving firearms are some of the most dangerous situations a detective can encounter.

This is related to a pro already mentioned, detectives never get bored, this can also be a con because a detective can not really plan out their days. Criminal situations and the need for investigations happen in an instant and a detective must always be ready to respond, no matter their current state of mind. This day-to-day fluctuation can be taxing mentally.

• Detectives are often confronted with morose situations

Detectives often have to see sights that most people would rather not see, such as murder victims, mutilated bodies, and perhaps the worst, crimes involving children. These disturbing images and events can have a negative impact on a detective's psyche. Oftentimes the most horrific things they have witnessed will stay with them for the rest of their careers and lives.