Also called: DCSA Investigator
Interviews people and checks records to investigate applicants for security clearances.
Background investigators interview an applicant's neighbors, coworkers, and old roommates, and check police and credit records. They drive all over their region and write detailed reports.
Federal GS or agency pay scale; DC-area locality pay is higher.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's degree or investigative experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Criminal Justice, Psychology, Journalism.
Growing about average. Approximate.
Medium risk for 10 years. Automated record checks replace some legwork; in-person interviews with neighbors and coworkers stay human.
Classes: English, Psychology, Government.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-9021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.