AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 33-3021.00

Will AI replace Detectives and Criminal Investigators?

Detectives and Criminal Investigators: AI can already handle 2 of 30 tasks; the work mostly needs an efficient-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 30 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Detectives and Criminal Investigators, from most to least exposed. 2 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records. 80 Estimated Efficient 4.3
Prepare reports that detail investigation findings. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities. 50 Estimated Standard 4.2
Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.6
Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Provide information to lab personnel concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations. 30 Estimated Frontier 4.3
Participate or assist in raids and arrests. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.3
Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary. 30 Estimated Standard 4.3
Summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical personnel to take statements from them. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.3
Notify command of situation and request assistance. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.3
Block or rope off scene and check perimeter to ensure that entire scene is secured. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.0
Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Perform undercover assignments and maintain surveillance, including monitoring authorized wiretaps. 20 Estimated Efficient 3.9

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 0 of 30 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 30 of 30. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

An efficient-tier model or lower covers 90% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
114,430
Median annual wage
$93,790
Middle half of earners
$69,330 to $120,520
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
-0.7%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034. BLS publishes these figures by SOC code, so O*NET occupations that share a SOC code show the same figures.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Detectives and Criminal Investigators and AI

Will AI replace Detectives and Criminal Investigators?

AI already handles 2 of the 30 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 33 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by -0.7% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Detectives and Criminal Investigators?

33 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 0 of the 30 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 30 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Detectives and Criminal Investigators tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records; Prepare reports that detail investigation findings. They are the tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

An efficient-tier model or lower covers 90% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Detectives and Criminal Investigators, and what do they earn?

114,430 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $93,790 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of -0.7% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Detectives and Criminal Investigators. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/detectives-and-criminal-investigators

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