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Skip tracer vs licensed private investigator

The differences between skip tracers and licensed private investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a skip tracer and a licensed private investigator. Additionally, a licensed private investigator has an average salary of $47,204, which is higher than the $36,545 average annual salary of a skip tracer.

The top three skills for a skip tracer include debt collection, outbound calls and skip trace. The most important skills for a licensed private investigator are background checks, child abuse, and insurance fraud.

Skip tracer vs licensed private investigator overview

Skip TracerLicensed Private Investigator
Yearly salary$36,545$47,204
Hourly rate$17.57$22.69
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs1,46416,954
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 29%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

Skip tracer vs licensed private investigator salary

Skip tracers and licensed private investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Skip TracerLicensed Private Investigator
Average salary$36,545$47,204
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $66,000Between $30,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between skip tracer and licensed private investigator education

There are a few differences between a skip tracer and a licensed private investigator in terms of educational background:

Skip TracerLicensed Private Investigator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 29%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBusinessCriminal Justice
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - BakersfieldCalifornia State University - Bakersfield

Skip tracer vs licensed private investigator demographics

Here are the differences between skip tracers' and licensed private investigators' demographics:

Skip TracerLicensed Private Investigator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 35.3% Female, 64.7%Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 4.7% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 4.7% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between skip tracer and licensed private investigator duties and responsibilities

Skip tracer example responsibilities.

  • Prevent impeding loss and increasing profitability through negotiation and enforcement of schedule collection campaigns, consistently achieving high success standards.
  • Prevent impeding loss and increasing profitability through negotiation and enforcement of schedule collection campaigns, consistently achieving high success standards.
  • Utilize various skip-tracing services such as Accurint and TheWorkNumber in order to locate consumers and verify employment for account recovery purposes.

Licensed private investigator example responsibilities.

  • Manage and dispose of claims in litigation by preparing and developing strategy with defense counsel and consensus relative to litigation handling.
  • Deliver subpoenas, interview witnesses and clients, write reports, some surveillance experience.
  • Serve subpoenas and legal documents, supervise special events to include short and long term security operations.
  • Create quality control documentation associate with manufacturing process, raw materials and quality testing procedures according to corporate and FDA guidelines.
  • Identify and accurately report extremely time sensitive and confidential data in accordance with HIPPA guidelines.

Skip tracer vs licensed private investigator skills

Common skip tracer skills
  • Debt Collection, 25%
  • Outbound Calls, 11%
  • Skip Trace, 7%
  • Delinquent Accounts, 6%
  • Payment Arrangements, 5%
  • FDCPA, 5%
Common licensed private investigator skills
  • Background Checks, 11%
  • Child Abuse, 10%
  • Insurance Fraud, 9%
  • Background Investigations, 8%
  • Minimum Standards, 8%
  • Administrative Hearings, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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