Criminologist reveals four common jobs most serial killers have

A criminologist has revealed the most common professions for serial killers to get in to, with four jobs 'overrepresented' in data about the world's most dangerous murderers.

People love to know why killers are the way that they are, and criminologist and former investigator Jillian Peterson is someone who can help with that.

She spoke to Wired about serial killers, and answered people's burning questions about the way that they operate, think and feel.

When someone asked the expert, 'what kind of job would a serial killer have?', viewers were all ears.

The expert shared that there are four common careers that a serial killer would take up and the reasons behind it are fascinating.

Criminologist and former investigator Jillian Peterson spoke to Wired about serial killers (YouTube/Wired)

While you may have thought that killers live in a dimly lit basement, a lot of the time they can look as normal as everyone else.

I mean, think of John Wayne Gacy, he was in politics, construction and played a clown for children.

Ted Bundy was also trying to break into politics too and knew a fair deal about the law.

But there's a reason why they chose what they did.

What are the most common jobs for serial killers?

Peterson shared: "If we look at the patterns in the data, there are some jobs that emerge as maybe overrepresented."

Peterson said these roles are mechanics, machinists, truck drivers and police officers.

For serial killers, these may present an environment where it's 'easier to get away with the crime.'

What is the most common profession for female serial killers?

When questioned about whether female serial killers would work in a profession which would put them in the role of a carer, she explained: "There's not that many serial killers, but of them, there have been quite a few nurses."

Peterson went on to share that a study which look at 16 nurses who were serial killers went on to use poison to kill their victims, as this largely went 'undetected' because of the 'profession they had'.

She said that serial killers choose to be mechanics (Getty Stock Images)

So, perhaps you would find a killer working in a role which provided them the means to cover it up, or that would make it easier for them to hide a body and evidence.

Truck drivers work long hours on the road, often in the dead of night which could present possibilities for them to pick up a hitchhiker and bury them miles and miles away.

A machinist has tools for disposal and a police office could know the ins and outs of what investigators looks for so that they could pre-emptively get rid of evidence beforehand.

Realistically, these are pretty suitable jobs for serial killers to get into.

This doesn't mean you need to be scared of everyone who is in these roles, though. So don't go quivering every time your car breaks down.