Investigator demographics and statistics in the US
Investigator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates investigator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our investigator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about investigators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 26,173 investigators currently employed in the United States.
- 43.4% of all investigators are women, while 56.6% are men.
- The average investigator age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of investigators is White (56.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.2%), Black or African American (13.5%) and Unknown (5.8%).
- Investigators are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $111,801, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women investigators earned 86% of what men earned.
- California is the best state for investigators to live.
- Investigators are 37% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Investigator demographics by:
Investigator gender statistics
43.4% of investigators are women and 56.6% of investigators are men.
- Male, 56.6%
- Female, 43.4%
Investigator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 56.6% |
| Female | 43.4% |
Investigator gender pay gap
Women earn 86¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$80,220
Female income
$68,887
Investigator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in investigator positions over time. Currently, 43.4% of investigators are female.
Investigator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.43% | 35.57% |
| 2011 | 61.07% | 38.93% |
| 2012 | 54.82% | 45.18% |
| 2013 | 60.85% | 39.15% |
| 2014 | 58.16% | 41.84% |
| 2015 | 59.40% | 40.60% |
| 2016 | 56.83% | 43.17% |
| 2017 | 59.73% | 40.27% |
| 2018 | 59.68% | 40.32% |
| 2019 | 56.08% | 43.92% |
| 2020 | 56.41% | 43.59% |
| 2021 | 56.61% | 43.39% |
Investigator related jobs gender ratio
We compared investigators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, rescue boat operator and bodyguard have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Playground Monitor | 18% | 82% |
| School Crossing Guard | 21% | 79% |
| Crossing Guard | 23% | 77% |
| Investigator | 57% | 43% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Investigator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among investigators is White, which makes up 56.5% of all investigators. Comparatively, 19.2% of investigators are Hispanic or Latino and 13.5% of investigators are Black or African American.
- White, 56.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.2%
- Black or African American, 13.5%
- Unknown, 5.8%
- Asian, 4.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Investigator race
| Investigator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 56.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.2% |
| Black or African American | 13.5% |
| Unknown | 5.8% |
| Asian | 4.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Investigator race and ethnicity over time
See how investigator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Investigator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65.86% | 9.60% | 3.62% | 16.90% |
| 2011 | 62.93% | 12.39% | 3.18% | 19.20% |
| 2012 | 63.86% | 11.74% | 3.98% | 17.24% |
| 2013 | 62.12% | 13.15% | 2.71% | 18.27% |
| 2014 | 64.89% | 12.09% | 2.68% | 16.69% |
| 2015 | 62.50% | 12.44% | 3.98% | 18.35% |
| 2016 | 62.66% | 11.25% | 4.06% | 18.82% |
| 2017 | 62.58% | 10.03% | 5.08% | 17.82% |
| 2018 | 61.04% | 13.21% | 4.59% | 17.72% |
| 2019 | 60.71% | 12.75% | 5.33% | 19.06% |
| 2020 | 62.92% | 11.32% | 3.49% | 17.98% |
| 2021 | 56.46% | 13.53% | 4.66% | 19.23% |
Investigator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown investigators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american investigators have the lowest average salary at $75,817.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $81,857 |
| White | $81,597 |
| Black or African American | $75,817 |
| Asian | $80,796 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $81,194 |
Average investigator age
See how the average age of investigators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Investigator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 48 | 36.5 |
| White | 43 | 41 |
| Black or African American | 46 | 47 |
| Asian | 43.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 42 | 40 |
Investigator age breakdown
The average age of investigators is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the investigator population.
Investigator age breakdown
| Investigator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 12% |
Investigator educational attainment
The most common degree for investigators is bachelor's degree, with 62% of investigators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- Bachelor's, 62%
- Associate, 14%
- Master's, 12%
- Doctorate, 4%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Investigators by degree level
| Investigator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 62% |
| Associate | 14% |
| Master's | 12% |
| Doctorate | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Investigator jobs you might like
Investigator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, investigators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $93,404 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, investigators earn a median annual income of $79,229 compared to $66,946 for investigators with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $93,404 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $62,345 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $79,229 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $66,946 |
Investigator employment statistics
Most investigators work for a private in the government industry.
Company size where investigators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where investigators work.
Investigator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 11% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 28% |
Investigator jobs by company type
Employees with the investigator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most investigators prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Investigator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 4% |
| Public | 21% |
| Private | 37% |
| Government | 37% |
Investigator jobs by industry
The most common industries for investigators are government, professional and finance.
Investigator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 30% |
| Professional | 16% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Finance | 8% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Utilities | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Insurance | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Investigator turnover and employment statistics
Investigator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for investigators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Investigator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Investigator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.58% |
| 2011 | 7.05% |
| 2012 | 4.89% |
| 2013 | 5.47% |
| 2014 | 4.38% |
| 2015 | 3.03% |
| 2016 | 1.98% |
| 2017 | 2.44% |
| 2018 | 2.70% |
| 2019 | 2.51% |
| 2020 | 4.40% |
| 2021 | 3.23% |
Average investigator tenure
The average investigator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 22,273 investigators resumes in Zippia's database.
Investigator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 19% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Investigator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of investigators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Flagman | 3.84% | 2,605 |
| Gaming Surveillance Observer | 6.29% | 1,305 |
| Victims Advocate Clerk/Specialist | 7.17% | 74,103 |
| Supervisory Lifeguard | 7.20% | 3,230 |
| Investigator | 8.27% | - |
| Lead Transportation Security Officer | 15.51% | 104,461 |
Similar investigator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Flagman | 3.84% | 2,605 |
| Gaming Surveillance Observer | 6.29% | 1,305 |
| Victims Advocate Clerk/Specialist | 7.17% | 74,103 |
| Supervisory Lifeguard | 7.20% | 3,230 |
| Lead Transportation Security Officer | 15.51% | 104,461 |
Foreign languages spoken by investigators
The most common foreign language among investigators is Spanish at 60.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 7.8% and Mandarin is the third-most popular at 4.0%.
- Spanish, 60.2%
- French, 7.8%
- Mandarin, 4.0%
- Arabic, 3.7%
- Chinese, 3.6%
- Other, 20.7%
Investigator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60.2% |
| French | 7.8% |
| Mandarin | 4.0% |
| Arabic | 3.7% |
| Chinese | 3.6% |
| Other | 20.7% |
