Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Machines can already do 39% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 61%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 39% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 4% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 61% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 114,430 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $93,790 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 93% for contact with people.
- Also called: Criminal Investigator, CSI (Crime Scene Investigator), Detective, Fugitive Detective.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare reports that detail investigation findings | 10% | 64% to 81% | |
| Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device | 10% | 50% to 72% | |
| Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants | 8% | 63% to 81% | |
| Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records | 6% | 50% to 72% | |
| Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects | 6% | 50% to 72% | |
| Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures | 6% | 63% to 81% | |
| Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed | 4% | 18% to 51% | |
| Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed | 4% | 50% to 72% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills detectives and criminal investigators use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Transit and Railroad Police52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $90,230
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $56,870
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives47% of tasks by 2035 · US median $106,040
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $42,540
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Detectives and Criminal Investigators?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of detectives and criminal investigators?
Machines can do 39% of the tasks of detectives and criminal investigators today and 61% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 33-3021.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Detectives and Criminal Investigators: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/detectives-and-criminal-investigators/