Detective
Detectives investigate serious crimes, piece together what happened from evidence and interviews, and prepare the case that goes to court.
- Median salary*
- $111,800
3.6%vs last year, before tax
- People employed
- 4,800
0.0%vs last year
- Projected growth
- +11.1%
to 2035
- AI exposure*
- Low
- automation risk
- Average hours
- 44/wk
+4h vs all jobs
- Shortage status
- Not in shortage
national
Detectives are police officers who have moved into criminal investigation. Where uniformed officers answer calls and patrol, a detective carries a caseload and follows each matter through to a brief of evidence and often a court appearance. Most work plain clothes from a station or a specialist squad in a state or territory police force, and some work for the Australian Federal Police.
How much do detectives earn?
The median full-time salary for a detective is $111,800 per annum, before tax, up $23,000 since 2018.
Pay is set by the enterprise agreement or award of the police force you serve in, so rates differ between states and territories and between ranks. Shift penalties, overtime and public holiday work add to the base rate, and the detective designation itself usually carries an allowance on top of the police officer rate. Promotion to senior detective or sergeant lifts it further.
What does a detective do day to day?
The list below is what fills most weeks; the exact mix shifts with seniority and whatever stage the current work is at.
- Investigating serious offences such as homicide, fraud, sexual assault and organised crime
- Gathering and analysing evidence, including phone records, CCTV footage and forensic results
- Interviewing witnesses, victims and suspects, usually under recording and caution
- Preparing briefs of evidence and giving evidence in court
- Coordinating with forensic specialists, analysts, prosecutors and other units on the same case
What skills do detectives need?
Employers look for casework and client support, legal research, backed by i2 Analyst's Notebook fluency and strong problem solving.
Specialist skills
- Casework and client support
- Legal research
Software and tools
- i2 Analyst's Notebook
- QPRIME
- Microsoft Office
- Case management systems
- Forensic analysis software
General skills
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
- Written communication
- Stakeholder management
- Time and deadline management
Is the job growing?
About 4,800 people work as detectives in Australia, and employment is projected to grow 11.1% over the decade to 2035. That's healthy, above-average growth, and the role should stay in solid demand.
How do you become a detective?
Here's the path most detectives take, step by step.
- 1Join a police force as a police officer
Detectives are sworn officers first, so entry is through a state or territory police force or the Australian Federal Police. Recruit training runs for around six to eight months and is paid, and you need to pass fitness, medical, psychological and background checks before you start.
- 2Build frontline experience
Most forces expect a minimum period in general duties, commonly two to three years, before you can apply for criminal investigation. That time is where you learn procedure, evidence handling and how to keep a conversation steady when someone is frightened or hostile.
- 3Be selected and complete detective training
Selection looks at your casework, reports and references, and successful officers complete the force's detective education program, often while staying on the job, followed by a probationary period as a detective. Most detectives hold a Diploma / Advanced Diploma, which is what 49% of the current workforce has.
- 4Specialise within criminal investigation
Once designated, detectives move into squads such as fraud, child protection, organised crime or homicide, and can sit promotion exams for sergeant and beyond.
Ready to apply as a detective?
Whether you're working toward becoming a detective or already are one and want a hand with the next step (sharpening your resume for ATS screening, tightening your cover letter, or knowing what you'll actually be asked at interview), here are examples grounded in this specific role, not generic templates.
What jobs can a detective move to?
Moving into Intelligence Analyst typically comes with the biggest pay rise, worth $1,200 a year more on average.
| Move to | Typical pay change | Overlap | Retraining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Analyst Detective's analytical and investigative experience suits intelligence analysis, though a relevant degree is needed. | +$1,200 | 17% | requalify |
| Policy Officer Detective's understanding of crime and justice informs policy work, but a degree is required for policy roles. | +$1,200 | 17% | requalify |
| Police Prosecutor Detective's investigative and evidence-gathering skills transfer to prosecuting police cases, with additional legal training required. | −$10,400 | 59% | reskill |
Moves are chosen from Jobs and Skills Australia's Data on Occupation Mobility, which follows income tax records between 2011-12 and 2020-21, together with entry requirements and skill overlap. A known move is one people were seen making in that data. Pay change compares median full-time pay for the two roles.
Who works as a detective?
The typical detective is 41 years old; 72% are men, 93% work full-time, and full-timers average 44 hours a week.
- 41
- Median age
- 28%
- Female share
- 93%
- Full-time
- +4h
- vs all-jobs avg
What's it like being a detective?
The work runs on a caseload rather than a shift. A detective might interview a witness in the morning, work through phone data in the afternoon and give evidence the next day, with court dates setting the deadlines everything else fits around. It suits people who like untangling detail, can hold several matters in their head at once and are comfortable deciding with incomplete information.
What people like
- You own the investigation. A detective carries a case from the first report through to the courtroom, so you see how one piece of evidence changes the picture.
- Specialist squads open up. After the designation you can move into fraud, organised crime, child protection or homicide, and the work shifts with the squad.
- Skilled people on the same file. Forensic specialists, analysts and prosecutors contribute to the case, which means help is close when a matter turns technical.
- Results you can point to. An arrest, a charge or a conviction is a defined end point rather than an open-ended project.
What people find hard
- The caseload runs in the background. New reports arrive while you are still finishing the last matter, and court dates do not move because you are busy.
- Hours can be unpredictable. Callouts, surveillance and night shifts are part of the job, and full-time detectives average 44 hours a week.
- Paperwork and disclosure. Briefs of evidence, court files and disclosure obligations take up a large share of the week, and errors there can damage a case.
- Some investigations stall. Cases sometimes run out of leads or evidence, and the honest answer is that nothing further can be proved.
Based on our synthesis of professional-body surveys and public accounts of the role, not first-person verified reviews.
Which industries employ detectives?
Public Administration and Safety employs the largest share of detectives.
Top employing industries
- 1Public Administration and Safety
Ranked by employment share; the source doesn't publish an exact percentage per industry.
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 48.9% | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor degree | 29.7% | |
| Year 12 or below | 8.1% | |
| Postgraduate | 6.4% | |
| Certificate III/IV | 3.6% |
Will AI replace detectives?
Detective work has low exposure to AI, and the reason sits in the nature of the job: evidence has to be lawfully obtained, handled and sworn to by a person who can be cross-examined on it. The tools already in use, case management systems, QPRIME, i2 Analyst's Notebook and forensic analysis software, sort, link and transcribe large volumes of material far faster than manual review. They change how quickly a detective reaches a pattern, not who decides what it means or what happens next.
Share of typical working time by exposure level
- Interviewing witnesses and suspectsAutomated transcription shortens the note-taking, but the questioning, the cautions and the reading of a person who is lying, frightened or both stay with the officer.30%low
- Gathering and analysing evidenceLink analysis and phone data tools surface connections across thousands of records, while the detective still decides which lead is worth chasing and why it matters to the case.25%moderate
- Surveillance, warrants and court testimonyPhysical surveillance, executing search warrants and giving sworn evidence are done in person, and no system can stand in for the officer in the witness box.25%low
- Preparing briefs of evidence and court filesDraft statements, summaries and disclosure schedules can be generated from the case system, then checked, corrected and signed by the officer who will answer for them in court.20%high
Common questions about becoming a detective
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
How much do detectives earn?
Detectives earn a median of $111,800 per year before tax. That figure is a midpoint for full-time detectives, so it is not a starting rate, and what you take home depends on your force's enterprise agreement, your rank, shift penalties and overtime.
How do you become a detective?
You join a police force as a recruit, work general duties for the minimum period your force requires, then apply for selection into criminal investigation. Successful applicants complete the force's detective training program and a probationary period before the designation is confirmed.
Are detectives in demand?
Detectives are currently not in shortage, and employment is projected to grow 11.1% over the decade to 2035. Because forces fill these positions by selecting officers from within, openings usually appear as internal applications rather than public job ads, so the practical question is how your own force is staffing its investigation units.
Will AI replace detectives?
Exposure is low, because interviews, evidence decisions and sworn court testimony stay with the officer. Software such as case management systems, QPRIME, forensic analysis tools and automated transcription speeds up sorting, linking and drafting, which changes how quickly you get to a pattern rather than who decides what it means.
What can detectives move into?
Police prosecution is a common step, since evidence gathering and case preparation carry over and legal training is added, and pay for that role is $10,400 less than detective pay. Intelligence analysis ($1,200 more) or policy work in a justice agency suits detectives ready to leave casework, though both generally expect a relevant degree.
What are the hours like?
Full-time detectives average 44 hours a week, and the schedule includes shift work, weekends, on-call rosters and court appearances that are set by the court rather than by you. Rosters are usually published in advance, but a major incident can change the day at short notice.
Related roles
- Police Prosecutor
- Intelligence Analyst
- Policy Officer
- Police Officer
- Housing Officer
- Social Security Assessor
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