41310 – Police investigators and other investigative occupations

Lead statement

Police investigators and professionals in related investigative occupations follow leads and investigate circumstances relating to crimes committed and obtain information to prevent crimes. They plan and coordinate investigations, collect evidence, interview suspects, victims, witnesses and other stakeholders, conduct surveillance and testify in court.

Main duties

• Interviews persons in connection with criminal incidents, including victims, witnesses and suspects
• Exchange information and coordinate activities with other law enforcements agencies
• Prepare investigation reports and testify in courts concerning criminal investigations
• Search and collect physical evidence from crimes scenes, such as fingerprints, and attend autopsies
• Perform surveillance by using investigative technologies
• Obtain search warrants, conduct searches and arrest suspects
• May conduct investigation on online networks and computer systems to detect cyber crimes or to recover data.
• May supervise and coordinate the work of police officers.
• Conduct death investigations to determine the identity of the deceased, date and location of death, medical cause of death, and manner of death
• Order or perform autopsies and other medical tests
• Consult with and request assistance from law enforcement, physicians, and family
• Issue death certificates, including assigning cause and manner of death
• Identify and educate the public on dangerous practices or conditions that may lead to death
• May testify or produce evidence in proceedings about observations made during investigations
• May supervisor and coordinator work of other employees.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• Several years of experience as a police officers are required.
• Completion of a university degree in police investigation is required in Quebec.
• Specialized training or certification may be required for certain areas of investigation.
• In Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, a medical examiner is required to be a physician with an active medical license.
• In Ontario and Prince Edward Island, coroners are required to be a physician with an active medical license.
• In Quebec, coroners are required to be a non-retired member of the the Collège des médecins du Québec, the Barreau du Québec or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, and have a minimum of four years of professional experience in their practice.
• In British Columbia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon, it is preferred coroners have education and experience in the legal, medical or investigative fields.

Example job titles

Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) investigator · counterfeit and forgery section detective · police investigator · investigator - police · detective - police · narcotics squad detective · cybercrime investigator · narcotics detective · medical examiner · coroner

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.