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Job outlook for investigative research specialists in the United States
Are investigative research specialist jobs in demand?
Investigative research specialist job and salary trends over time
Investigative research specialist jobs over time
Investigative research specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 46 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 43 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 43 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 40 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 37 | 0.00% |
Average investigative research specialist salary over time
Investigative research specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $57,435 | $27.61 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $55,672 | $26.77 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $55,087 | $26.48 | --0.2% |
| 2023 | $55,183 | $26.53 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $54,598 | $26.25 | +0.7% |
Investigative research specialist jobs by state
Most common states for investigative research specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 623,657 | 137 | 22% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 144 | 21% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 172 | 18% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,045 | 17% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 179 | 17% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 873 | 16% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 680 | 16% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 220 | 16% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 95 | 16% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 279 | 15% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 127 | 15% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,161 | 14% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 780 | 14% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 440 | 14% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 103 | 14% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,552 | 12% |
| 17 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 365 | 12% |
| 18 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 131 | 12% |
| 19 | New York | 19,849,399 | 2,165 | 11% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,008 | 11% |
Investigative Research Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of investigative research specialist experts
Dillard University
Washington University in St Louis
Howard University
Illinois State University
Montana State University
Claremont McKenna College
Hanover College
Bradley University
How have salaries changed over time for Investigative Research Specialists?
Eva Baham: History graduates also account for their preparation to work in a number of positions in business.
Overall, history degrees shall serve individuals quite well, especially as the current health crisis (hopefully) comes to a close.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Investigative Research Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Eva Baham: With the hope that the economy returns to a sense of normalcy accompanied by stability in family incomes, families and individuals may seek ways to re-add a quality of life to their activities. Visits to museums (inside and outside), libraries, tourist destinations and other venues requiring information guided by sound and reputable knowledge should require individuals with a history background.
What technical skills for an Investigative Research Specialist stand out to employers?
Eva Baham: History graduates often apply to law schools. Although this is a delayed profession for an undergraduate degree, there are several sources including the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), which note that a high percentage of students with history degrees are admitted to law school. History's emphasis on research, analysis, and evidence prepare students for law school.
Sharon Deem DVM, PhD
Director of Saint Louis zoo institute for Conservation Medicine, Adjunct professor at WUSTLWashington University in St Louis
Institute for Conservation Medicine
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Investigative Research Specialists?
Sharon Deem DVM, PhD: This question is a tough one. In my mind, certificates/licenses/courses that will have the biggest impact on job prospects are the ones for which you have a passion. Life is short and work is long! I am a true believer that you will be successful and make a difference for the world if you pursue study, and ultimately a career, in a topic, or topics, for which you are interested. Beyond that, I think all young scholars would do well to possess more than one spoken language, have a good grasp of statistics, know how to communicate beyond a tweet or tic-toc post, and understand local, national and world politics.
How have salaries changed over time for Investigative Research Specialists?
Sharon Deem DVM, PhD: My field of One Health is so varied, as are the salaries. You may have a career as an infectious disease specialist, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, a position in a state public health agency, work for a zoological park, or be a forester. The list of careers within One Health are as varied as the range of the salaries people may receive. As a wildlife veterinarian and epidemiologist, I think salaries have not changed significantly, albeit keeping up with inflation, over the past couple of decades.
Rui Diogo Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorHoward University
Anatomy Department
What's a good job out of college for Investigative Research Specialists?
Rui Diogo Ph.D.: Most people having a master or phd in anatomy tend to have jobs at universities, teaching anatomy at medical schools and doing research. Outside academia it is more difficult for an anatomist. Possible options could be working in natural history museums, or in the production of anatomical/educational textbooks.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Investigative Research Specialists?
Rui Diogo Ph.D.: Probably yes, because the pandemic has decreased the economy, so all kind of jobs are affected.
What soft skills should all Investigative Research Specialists possess?
Ross Kennedy: They should have skills associated with an education grounded in the liberal arts. There have been a lot of surveys and studies on what tech and non-tech business leaders want in their employees and they all reveal the same thing: they want employees who understand human nature and psychology, who have a sense of empathy and an ability to put themselves in someone else's shoes, and who can think creatively to solve problems. They also highly value people who can write clearly and effectively, who have the ability to construct a concise, persuasive argument. Most broadly, they want people who know how to think analytically and how to learn.
Dr. Walter Fleming Ph.D.
Department Head and ProfessorMontana State University
Department of Native American Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Investigative Research Specialists?
Dr. Walter Fleming Ph.D.: The pandemic has been particularly difficult for Native communities and other people of color, as well as people living in pockets of poverty. Many people in indigenous communities have passed away due to complications of COVID. Native communities have been hit particularly hard because of the already high health disparities, such as heart disease and diabetes. Much cultural knowledge has been lost because of the high toll among our Elders. It will no doubt take generations to recover from the loss of knowledge due to COVID 19, if at all. As they say, when an Elder dies, it is like a library has burned down.
Graduates in ethnic studies should be aware that these communities have many challenges and have already experienced historical trauma. The communities are looking to rebuild and reestablish their infrastructures and lifeways.
What's a good job out of college for Investigative Research Specialists?
Dr. Walter Fleming Ph.D.: In ethnic studies, there are opportunities in tribal communities, working in many fields, but particularly those supporting the infrastructure of such communities. There are high demands for teachers, social workers, nurses, health care providers and other areas in the "helping professions," as these are critical needs in these communities. The isolation in such communities can mean high turnover but often that can mean higher entry level salaries. More importantly, there is a sense of satisfaction working with communities who struggle.
Daniel Livesay Ph.D.
Associate Professor of History, History Department ChairClaremont McKenna College
History Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Investigative Research Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Daniel Livesay Ph.D.: It's always hard to predict the future, especially with so much uncertainty in the job market right now. It seems unavoidable, though, that companies will have to make major adjustments in the coming months and years. That means that graduates will have to hold a number of different skills: strong organization, excellent communication, and passionate drive. Those are always employable characteristics and I imagine they'll still be needed in the post-pandemic economy.
What soft skills should all Investigative Research Specialists possess?
Anthony Miller: I think it's quite clear that employers will expect job candidates to be flexible and creative in a number of ways given the ongoing pandemic. Where people work, what roles they take on, new ways to think about collaborating with peers, abrupt schedule changes, and rethinking how to deliver goods and services remotely with public safety in mind are now en vogue and likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future. Adjusting to that kind of workplace means workers must adapt and exhibit strong time management, effective written communication, and collaborate with their co-workers with energy and enthusiasm.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Investigative Research Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Anthony Miller: Given the expansiveness of the field of public administration and the range of job types, I am not sure of the data on salary changes over time.
What's a day at work look like for an Investigative Research Specialist?
Anthony Miller: Honestly, right now a recent graduate's "day at work" for one day to the next will likely not look the same. I think it should be expected that recent graduates will spend one day working remotely from the home, and the next be called into workspace with their colleagues face-to-face. Recent graduates will also likely have their jobs go from having no travel at present, to a time in the near future when work trips will be a regular expectation from their employer. The one feature that I would expect to be a regular, day-to-day, part of the job would be continuing education to learn new platforms and technologies to enhance their performance at work. So, spending an hour or two each day researching or acquiring new skills, that is something that I think will become a daily routine.
What will help Investigative Research Specialists increase their earning potential?
John Nielsen Ph.D.: Most people assume History is the study of the past. It's not. It's the study of change over time. With change happening faster and faster, the ability to analyze change-to both understand causes and anticipate effects-is a skill that History majors possess. Applying those skills in the workplace can be a real value-add for History majors.