How to hire a background investigator

How to hire a background investigator, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The background investigator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A background investigator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, background investigators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of background investigators.

   Type of Background Investigator	Description	Hourly rate
   Background 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.	$13-43
   Police Officer	Police officers are responsible for keeping peace and security in a community. They uphold and enforce the law... Show more	$18-34
   Military Police Officer	A military police officer is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the areas assigned for their duly protection. Military police officers monitor their premises efficiently, inspecting suspicious individuals within the territory, and enforcing strict legislation protocols and military regulations for everyone's compliance... Show more	$12-26

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Excellent Time Management
   • Work Ethic
   • Face-To-Face Interviews
   • National Security
   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Financial Institutions
   • OPM
   • SSBI
   • Criminal Justice
   • Material Issues
   • Police Agencies
   • Government Agencies
   • Employment Suitability
   • Knowledgeable Individuals

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Participate in and lead the controlled purchase of illegal narcotics and firearms to apprehend suspects.
   • Conduct covert surveillance, deploy camera systems & GPS trackers, & report findings to be used in family court cases.
   • Provide EEO education and training.
   • Have top Secert ssbi clearance in JPAS
   • Comply with DOD site security protocols.
   • Conduct background investigations on behalf of CBP.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your background investigator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A background investigator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, background investigators' average salary in oklahoma is 60% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level background investigators 69% less than senior-level background investigators.
   • Certifications. A background investigator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a background investigator's salary.

   Average background investigator salary

   $51,076yearly

   $24.56 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level background investigator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

4. Writing a background investigator job description

   A job description for a background investigator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a background investigator job description:

   Background investigator job description example

   Time Type: Full time
   Minimum Clearance Required to Start: Top Secret
   
   Employee Type: Regular
   
   Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 50%
   
   Type of Travel: Local
   
   As an Entry Level Background Investigator, you will learn to conduct comprehensive interviews with subjects, employers, associates, references, and other knowledgeable individuals. You will review appropriate records to obtain facts to resolve all material issues in a case, or to establish the background, reputation, character, suitability, or qualifications of the subject under investigation. You will document all information and submit a detailed report of investigation within a strict required timeline. You'll have the opportunity to work on DCSA, DHS, Raspberry Beret, and Excalibur contracts.
   
   **What You'll Get to Do:**
   
   + This is an Entry-level position, typically requiring little to no prior experience!
   
   + The work is routine and will follow standard procedures.
   
   + Your quality of work will be closely supervised.
   
   + The problems faced are routine with clearly defined solutions.
   
   + Communicates information that requires little explanation or interpretation
   
   **You'll Bring These Qualifications:**
   
   + Preferred, not required: DCSA credential and experience conducting background investigations.
   
   + Proven quality, timeliness, and production metrics.
   
   + Active Top Secret Clerance
   
   **Physical Demands:**
   
   + Normal demands associated with working in an office environment.
   
   + This position requires long periods of standing, walking, and typing.
   
   **What We Can Offer You:**
   
   - We've been named a Best Place to Work by the Washington Post.
   
   - Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives.
   
   - We offer competitive benefits and learning and development opportunities.
   
   - We are mission-oriented and ever vigilant in aligning our solutions with the nation's highest priorities.
   
   - For over 55 years, the principles of CACI's unique, character-based culture have been the driving force behind our success.
   
   Company Overview: At CACI, you will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact by providing information solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for Intelligence, Defense, and Federal Civilian customers. CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
   
   As a federal contractor, CACI is subject to any federal vaccine mandates or other customer vaccination requirements. All new hires are required to report their vaccination status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find background investigators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any background investigators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level background investigators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit background investigators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 background investigator

   Once you've decided on a perfect background investigator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new background 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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