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What is an investigators assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

An investigator's assistant is an entry-level position that conducts office duties and some field work to support investigations into criminal cases and civil justice. Assistants are the first line of communication between the client and the person or company they work for. Individuals aspiring to be investigators often spend time assisting to receive training and guidance on the profession's requirements.

In this career, investigator's assistants' responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to processing legal documentation and reports including complaints, subpoenas, and more. Moreover, they collect police reports, fingerprints, and conduct background checks. They also interview witnesses and victims, and transport them to court if needed. Furthermore, they complete data entry and maintain updated records. Working as an investigator's assistant does not require any formal education; however, an investigator might require the applicant to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some colleges also offer classes in certain areas that might give applicants an advantage in employment over other candidates.

The average hourly salary for the position is $22.16, which amounts to $46,090 annually. In addition, the career is expected to grow in the near future and create new opportunities across the United States.

ScoreInvestigators AssistantUS Average
Salary
3.5

Avg. Salary $44,686

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 2.83%

Black or African American 12.02%

Hispanic or Latino 17.14%

Unknown 5.00%

White 62.34%

Gender

female 64.21%

male 35.79%

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

Investigators assistant career paths

Key steps to become an investigators assistant

  1. Explore investigators assistant education requirements

    Most common investigators assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    60.3 %

    Associate

    16.7 %

    Master's

    9.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific investigators assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Background Checks10.27%
    Physical Evidence8.79%
    Law Enforcement Agencies8.41%
    Data Entry7.59%
    Background Investigations7.09%
  3. Complete relevant investigators assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New investigators assistants 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 investigators assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real investigators assistant resumes.
  4. Research investigators assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Utilize SharePoint and Accutrac to convert information, by ensuring constant communication with department records coordinator and project leads.
    • Maintain strong working knowledge of both OPM and CBP/ICE contracts.
    • Review of case materials and pre-review items for OPM investigations.
    • Communicate with the public through outreach presentations on EEOC laws.
  5. Prepare your investigators assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your investigators assistant 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 investigators assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable investigators assistant resume templates

    Build a professional investigators assistant 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 investigators assistant resume.
    Investigators Assistant Resume
    Investigators Assistant Resume
    Investigators Assistant Resume
    Investigators Assistant Resume
    Investigators Assistant Resume
    Investigators Assistant Resume
    Investigators Assistant Resume
    Investigators Assistant Resume
    Investigators Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for investigators assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an investigators assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first investigators assistant job

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Average investigators assistant salary

The average investigators assistant salary in the United States is $44,686 per year or $21 per hour. Investigators assistant salaries range between $23,000 and $85,000 per year.

Average investigators assistant salary
$44,686 Yearly
$21.48 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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