14 Pros and Cons of Being a Detective

We often picture detectives in long trench coats, an unlit cigar hanging from their lips, either stalking a suspect or asking questions.

There is so much more to being a detective, and so many different environments for a detective to consider working in.

The only consistent thing among all detectives is the chance they have to solve puzzles and get to the bottom of mysteries.

Find out all the good and not-so-good things about being a detective.

Pros of Being a Detective

1. Job Security

Detectives are an essential part of the society we live in, and will always be in demand.

As the criminal element finds new ways to mastermind crime, more detectives will be needed.

There are also many different areas where detective work is needed, so if there is a lapse in opportunity in one area, there are always many others to choose from.

Many detectives find themselves working in two different jobs, which adds to the chances of always having work.

2. Variety of Experience

Every day is different when you are a detective.

You may be secretly photographing a cheating husband today and trying to find a murderer tomorrow.

One day will see yourself spending the day doing surveillance, the next interviewing people, and the following digging through trash to find clues. Each day is full of variety, and surprises abound.

You can fill a couple of pages of your resume by listing all the skills and activities you have mastered as a detective

One thing for sure is that you will rarely be bored.

3. Contributing to Finding the Truth

The biggest task of a detective is to find the truth in whatever situation they find themselves in.

Many times you work alone, but even when you work as part of a team, your activity can make a great difference in exposing what is true and right.

Finding the truth brings about happiness and relief to those who seek to do good in society.

You may help a mother find closure to her quest to find her missing child, help a husband find out if his wife is really cheating on him or if she does indeed love him, or expose a thief.

Whatever the task, you help find that truth.

4. Often Self-directed Work

For someone who doesn’t like to have a boss hanging over their shoulder every minute, being a detective is great work.

You follow where the clues lead, not a pre-determined path.

You often have to make on-the-spot decisions without input from someone else.

You decide your schedule in some positions, allowing you a chance to work around other aspects of your life.

You are tasked with a job and allowed to pursue the work in your own manner.

5. Can Earn Good Money

The salary of a detective will often be determined by what specialty you have, what area of the country you live in, and whether you work for somebody else or yourself.

On average, however, detectives can make good money, especially as they gain more experience.

The starting salary for most detectives is around $65,000 annually.

A well-paid detective can see themself earning upwards of $180,000 a year.

6. Intellectual Stimulation

Detective work takes an analytical mind, constant observation, and the ability to put different pieces together, no matter how disjointed they may seem.

This is a job that will help keep your mind active, making sure it doesn’t become prone to deterioration.

Many detectives find that this constant use of their brains keeps their minds sharp well into their senior years.

Detectives are rarely bored.

Even when doing surveillance and not being able to move around, the mind itself must remain active and alert.

7. Meet a Variety of People

As a detective, you come into contact with a wide variety of people.

These are people of all ages, nationalities, religions, and economic status.

You may not always like contact, such as with people you know are criminals, but every person will give you a chance to learn something about humanity in general and about yourself.

You will get to enjoy the beautiful variety of human existence to its fullness.

Cons of Being a Detective

1. Long Hours

Detectives rarely have a set schedule.

You may find yourself on call 24/7.

Even when you work in a police department, you may find yourself being called in at all hours of the day and night because someone has committed a crime.

The hours you work will depend on the schedules of others and when the most helpful information is available.

This is not a nine-to-five job.

You may only work a couple of hours one day, but you will make up for it the next.

2. Irregular Hours

This is related to the above.

Today, you may get to see daylight, but yesterday, you worked in the middle of the night.

You are just as likely to see a sunrise as you are a moonrise.

You have to work when you have the most chance of meeting people, where they are for interviews, or following a wayward subject as they go about their day.

You can never really make advanced plans to attend events, or even be home for supper, as you don’t know when you will be needed.

3. Takes an Emotional Toll

Detectives are exposed to some of the worst society has to offer.

Many develop PTSD after years of exploring crime scenes or searching for missing people.

They see the worst humanity has to offer, and this often takes a toll emotionally.

Many detectives become jaded over time, expecting only the worst from those around them.

Others may become numb to emotion, both good and bad.

There is often a chance of self-medication leading to addiction.

4. Limits Social Life

When you don’t know if you are going to be called in, you can’t plan on attending social events with certainty.

You may miss birthday parties for your kids, graduation ceremonies, and the chance to plan a vacation.

Dating is difficult because many people won’t understand that your time must be given to your job first and the relationship second.

Detectives experience a high rate of divorce.

5. Physically Demanding

Detectives don’t simply sit in their cars and eat doughnuts all day.

This is a job that requires moving around and following people on foot.

You may need to run or even climb fences.

You are subject to unhealthy eating, little sleep, and irregular exercise.

All this is bound to take a physical toll on the human body.

Very often, working for an agency will require you to stay in shape, and you will be tested regularly on things like obstacle courses.

6. Poor Work Environment

You may have an office somewhere, but you won’t see it often. Sometimes it may be days between visits.

You will find yourself in the worst neighborhoods, unhealthy places such as dumps, and risky places like bars or strip clubs.

You will, at times, feel like you are living out of your car.

Yes, you will get to see some of the nicer places in life, but remember that you are most often searching out criminals, and they don’t usually frequent spas and high-class restaurants.

7. Dangerous Situations

Criminals don’t want to be caught.

That is something that is a given.

If you are chasing a murderer, you may find yourself being a target.

You may get shot at.

You may find yourself in a situation with a ticking bomb.

At the very least, you could find an irate subject ready to give you a quick punch in the nose so they can run.

You must always be on guard.

Even if you are not confronted by dangerous people, you may find yourself on a construction site with heavy equipment, in a building that is deteriorating, or in a cemetery in the middle of the night.

The possible dangerous situations are endless.

Pros and Cons of Being a Detective – Summary Table

Should I Become a Detective?

A detective’s life is full of danger, intrigue, and inconsistency.

It offers fairly good pay and job security, but can take its toll on your physical and mental health.

You never know from one day to the next what your next work day will be like, but you know it will be a chance to help others and get to the truth.

If you want a career that allows you to plan your days completely and gives you a chance to clock out at 3:00 so you can go home to your family or attend social events, then becoming a detective is not a career for you.

If, on the other hand, you dream of solving mysteries, bringing about justice, having every day be an adventure, and coming into contact with many different people in many different environments, then this could be your perfect career.