Skills
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Overview
Criminal investigators process crime scenes and evidence by securing the scene, preventing outside influence, documenting findings, preserving materials and writing reports.
In job descriptions, look for crime-scene examination, evidence handling, photography, scene isolation, chain-of-custody records, forensic awareness, report writing and careful work under investigative procedures.
Explore this occupation
Search jobsWhat the work can involve
The work starts at the scene: keeping the area protected, observing details, photographing evidence, collecting or preserving material and writing reports that investigators can use. Careful handling matters because later decisions may depend on the condition and documentation of evidence.
Skills and specializations
Useful depth includes crime-scene methods, evidence packaging, photography, chain-of-custody records, forensic awareness, report writing and personal discipline around contamination. Some roles lean toward fingerprints, scene photography, laboratory handover or broader investigative support.
Salary context
Pay comparisons should consider irregular call-outs, exposure to distressing scenes, evidence responsibility, required technical methods, report complexity and independent judgment at a scene. A support role with limited collection duties differs from a lead scene investigator.
Career paths
Experience may develop from police, forensic support or laboratory-adjacent work toward senior scene investigation, fingerprint work, evidence coordination, forensic case support or training others in scene procedures.
Good to know
Check whether a vacancy names crime-scene attendance, evidence collection, photography, contamination control, reports and custody records. Clear wording separates this work from general detective duties or laboratory-only forensic analysis.
Editorial note
This guide is editorial career context, not official labour-market statistics or role-specific pay data.
Where might this occupation occur?
This occupation may occur in several kinds of economic activity. Here are some examples and other occupations that may be found in the same areas.
Public order and safety activities
This is one example. Other occupations in this activity include police inspector, police detective and immigration officer.
These examples offer an overview but do not show every economic activity where the occupation may occur.
About this information
The selection is based on how occupations are connected to economic activities in ESCO and NACE. Only a few examples are shown to make the information easier to use. The occupations were selected because they are close in occupation area and important skills. The examples are not a ranking. They do not show where most people work, where demand is highest, or which occupation is best suited to a particular person.
Map overview
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O*NET relationships
See occupations connected to this ESCO occupation in the official O*NET–ESCO mapping. The relationship type comes from the source and is not a ranking or recommendation.
O*NET relationships: 5
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
33-3051.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETForensic Science Technicians
19-4092.00
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETDetectives and Criminal Investigators
33-3021.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETPrivate Detectives and Investigators
33-9021.00
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETPolice Identification and Records Officers
33-3021.02
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETSource and method
These relationships come from the official European Commission O*NET–ESCO crosswalk.
Relationship direction: O*NET occupation to ESCO occupation.
Several O*NET occupations can point to the same ESCO occupation, and one O*NET occupation can point to several ESCO occupations.
AltoTrail preserves the source relationship type. The order is technical and does not show which occupation is best, most relevant or recommended.
AltoTrail validates and presents the source relationships without adding ranking or recommendation semantics.
NACE Rev. 2.1
Economic activities linked to this occupation.
84.24Public order and safety activities
Alternative labels
Occupation group
Police inspectors and detectives (3355)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/3cee6bea-4a19-4511-9bbb-fdf820857555 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 3355.1 |
| ISCO group | 3355 |
| Concept type | Occupation |