BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR 1764 (Revised 07/01/26)

About the role

A Background Investigator is a civilian employee who conducts and compiles personal and professional background investigations for public safety candidates.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and compile background investigations for employment, internal affairs investigations, or in-depth investigations of criminal matters.
• Prepare reports on findings.
• Makes recommendations as to background findings.
• Performs other related duties.
• In the higher pay grades, may supervise or act as a head worker to staff involved in the above duties.

Requirements

• Five years of full-time paid experience within the last ten years as a California peace officer that includes experience in background investigations for employment, internal affairs investigations, or in-depth investigations of criminal matters.
• A valid Private Investigator’s license issued by the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
• Nine hundred cumulative hours of paid experience within the last five years conducting background investigations for public safety positions while employed with the City of Los Angeles.

Qualifications

• A valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
• Completion of a California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Background Investigation Course within the last five years.

Skills

• Knowledge of objective symptoms of use of alcohol and commonly used controlled substances sufficient to recognize when a person may be under the influence.
• Interviewing techniques sufficient to obtain necessary background information.
• Investigative techniques and concepts of background investigations to collect accurate and complete information.

Benefits

The City of Los Angeles offers various benefits to its employees, including:

• Health and dental coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Disaster Service Worker status.

Pay

Annual salary is at the start of the pay range, ranging from $86,443 to $119,684, with a current salary range subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.

Schedule

Work location is Downtown Los Angeles. However, Background Investigators in the course of performing field investigations will be required to drive to areas outside of downtown Los Angeles.

Additional Information

Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure they have time to resolve any technical issues. The examination process involves an advisory essay and an interview. Applicants must provide a working email address on their application to receive status updates.