How To Become An Internal Affairs Investigator: What It Is and Career Path

What is an internal affairs investigator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Gary LaFree

Internal affairs investigators are tasked with investigating violations of agency policy, allegations of misuse of public office, uses of force, and control by officers. Their investigations also cover accusations of criminal wrongdoing by members of their departments. They interview and interrogate victims, witnesses, and suspects.

They write extensive investigative reports. Sometimes, they may visit scenes, such as police shootings and sites where improper conduct was reported to have occurred. Also, they make recommendations to command personnel. An Internal Affairs (IA) Investigator is also referred to as IA detectives or IA. He/She reports directly to the chief, agency director, or an independent commission.

To work as an IA, you need at least a bachelor's degree. You must know about the policies and procedures of your agency. You must be familiar with relevant states' criminal laws and statutes. The average gross salary for this job is $77,072, or an equivalent of $37 per hour.

What general advice would you give to an internal affairs 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.

ScoreInternal Affairs InvestigatorUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $54,189

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 2.82%

Black or African American 11.75%

Hispanic or Latino 16.72%

Unknown 4.99%

White 63.06%

Gender

female 28.00%

male 72.00%

Age - 44

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 - 44

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an internal affairs investigator

Explore internal affairs investigator education requirements

Most common internal affairs investigator degrees

Bachelor's

59.9 %

Associate

21.2 %

Master's

9.9 %

Start to develop specific internal affairs investigator skills

Skills	Percentages
Patrol	22.50%
Background Checks	10.14%
Conduct Interviews	8.48%
Law Enforcement Agencies	7.71%
Narrative Reports	5.44%

Complete relevant internal affairs investigator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New internal affairs 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 an internal affairs investigator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real internal affairs investigator resumes.

Research internal affairs investigator duties and responsibilities

Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
Deploy technical surveillance (CCTV) to protect corporate proprietary information and assets.
Used exception reports, CCTV and interview to determine loss and make decision on resolution of the case.
Testify at criminal, civil, administration, arbitration and/or deposition hearings.

Prepare your internal affairs investigator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your internal affairs 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 an internal affairs 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 internal affairs investigator resume templates

Build a professional internal affairs 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 internal affairs investigator resume.

Apply for internal affairs investigator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an internal affairs 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

Average internal affairs investigator salary

The average internal affairs investigator salary in the United States is $54,189 per year or $26 per hour. Internal affairs investigator salaries range between $25,000 and $115,000 per year.

Average internal affairs investigator salary

$54,189 Yearly

$26.05 hourly

What is an internal affairs investigator and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an internal affairs investigator?

Internal affairs investigator career paths

Key steps to become an internal affairs investigator

Explore internal affairs investigator education requirements

Most common internal affairs investigator degrees

Start to develop specific internal affairs investigator skills

Complete relevant internal affairs investigator training and internships

Research internal affairs investigator duties and responsibilities

Prepare your internal affairs investigator resume

Choose from 10+ customizable internal affairs investigator resume templates

Apply for internal affairs investigator jobs

How did you land your first internal affairs investigator job

Average internal affairs investigator salary

How do internal affairs investigators rate their job?