2.  Interview people to gather information  Collect evidence to present in court  Find facts and analyze information about legal, financial, and personal matters  Typically work for individuals, attorneys, and businesses.

3.  Usually have college education  Some investigation jobs may not have specific education requirements, others require candidates to have a high school diploma  Because many financial investigators have an accountant’s background, they typically have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field

4.  Most private detectives and investigators learn on the job  New investigators must learn how to gather information, additional training depends on the type of firm that hires them

5.  Employment of private detectives and investigators is expected to grow 21 percent from 2010 to 2020  Increased demand for private detectives and investigators go from heightened security concerns and the need to protect property and confidential information

6.  The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,760  The top 10 percent earned more than $74,970  In May 2010 the median annual wage of private investigators was $42,870

7.  Competition is expected for most jobs, because private investigator careers attract many qualified people, including relatively young retirees from law enforcement or military careers  The best opportunities for jobseekers will be in entry-level jobs in detective agencies