Police Detective Jobs

Police detective jobs are open across municipal, county, and state agencies, at every level from investigator to senior detective and lieutenant, with specializations in homicide, cybercrime, and financial crimes. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

Find Police Detective Jobs

Overview

Open roles145+
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerTJ Maxx
Top cityConcord, CA
Top industryDistribution
Companies hiring13

Showing 5 of 145+ Police Detective jobs

Retail Loss Prevention Detective
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Added 1d ago
Retail Loss Prevention Detective
TJ Maxx
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Business Development
Customer Success
Growth Marketing
$14.55 - $20.4/hr
10,000+

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Retail Loss Prevention Detective
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Added 1d ago
Retail Loss Prevention Detective
TJ Maxx
Middletown, New York
Business Development
Customer Success
Partnerships & Business Development
$16 - $20.4/hr
10,000+

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County Detective - District Attorney's Office
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Added 1d ago
County Detective - District Attorney's Office
Lehigh County Authority
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Compliance & Legal
Consulting & Professional Services
Legal Counsel
Peace Officer Certification
51-200

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Retail Store Loss Prevention Detective
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Added 2d ago
Retail Store Loss Prevention Detective
TJ Maxx
Louisville, Kentucky
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$14.55 - $20.4/hr
10,000+

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Loss Prevention Detective
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Added 2d ago
Loss Prevention Detective
TJ Maxx
Fenton, Michigan
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$14.55 - $20.4/hr
10,000+

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Police Detective Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • TJ Maxx59
  • Marshalls41
  • HomeGoods13
  • Boscov's Department Store13
  • Sierra5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Distribution & Wholesale

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in police detective jobs.

  • Minimum years of sworn law enforcement experience, often three to five years
  • Active state peace officer certification or law enforcement commission
  • Completion of an accredited detective or criminal investigator training program
  • Demonstrated experience conducting felony-level criminal investigations
  • Proficiency with case management software and law enforcement databases
  • Valid driver's license and ability to pass a thorough background investigation

Tips for Your Police Detective Job Search

Tailor your resume to investigative work

Lead with case clearance contributions, evidence-handling procedures, and testimony experience rather than patrol duties. Hiring panels for detective roles want to see investigative thinking and courtroom credibility, not just years on the beat.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists police detective openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Target agencies by their specialty units

Filter openings by unit type, such as homicide, narcotics, or financial crimes, since detective certifications and prior caseload experience are evaluated differently across divisions. Applying to the right unit dramatically improves your odds of advancing past initial review.

Get your detective certification current

Many agencies require a state-specific detective or criminal investigator certification before the application closes, not just before the hire date. Check each listing's requirements and start the renewal process well ahead of deadlines.

Prepare for the oral board panel

Most detective promotions and lateral hires include a structured oral board with scenario-based questions on investigative decisions and chain-of-custody protocol. Practice answering within a fixed time limit, as panels often score brevity and clarity alongside content.

Follow up on background investigation timelines

Detective hiring processes often stall at the background and polygraph stage, sometimes for months. A brief, professional check-in with the hiring coordinator every few weeks keeps your file active and signals your continued interest without being intrusive.

Police Detective Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most police detectives?

The most active employers for police detectives right now are TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, and the most openings are in California, New York, and North Carolina, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Municipal police departments and county sheriff offices account for the largest share of active postings.

How do you become a police detective?

Start by completing a police academy and working as a sworn patrol officer to build foundational law enforcement experience. After several years on patrol, apply internally for detective or investigative division openings, often by passing a written exam, oral board, and supervisor recommendation process. Some agencies also accept lateral hires from other departments, provided you meet their minimum experience and certification standards.

Can you get hired as a police detective with little experience?

Most agencies require prior sworn law enforcement experience before promoting or hiring into a detective role, so direct entry with no patrol background is rare. Building your case by working specialized patrol assignments such as crimes against persons or property crimes units, volunteering for investigative task forces, and completing detective training courses can strengthen an application when you do meet the minimum experience threshold.

What does the police detective interview process look like?

The process typically starts with a written application review and minimum qualifications screening, followed by a written examination covering investigative principles and criminal law. Candidates who pass move to a structured oral board with a panel of senior investigators or command staff presenting scenario-based questions. A thorough background investigation, polygraph examination, and sometimes a psychological evaluation follow before a conditional offer is extended.

Where can I find and apply to police detective jobs?

You can find and apply to police detective jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from agencies across the United States. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each one that fits your background.

See All 145+ Police Detective Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Police Detective Jobs