• Private investigators work with computers."a monitor observing the Schwedenplatz in Vienna" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: viZZZual.com under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

Pay

• According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, private investigators make an average yearly salary of $33,750 (May 2006 data). The lowest income is approximately $20,000 per year. The highest salary is $64,380. However, salaries vary depending on the employer, experience and specialty.
  
  

Legal Work

• Private investigators can assist lawyers in preparing criminal defenses. For instance, they can serve legal documents, locate witnesses, take photographs and testify in court. In addition, legal private investigators gather and review evidence, and interview prospective witnesses and police to obtain additional information. They can work directly for lawyers or private law firms.
  
  

Corporate/Individual Work

• Financial private investigators are hired by companies and individuals to develop confidential profiles. These profiles are usually of prospective clients. Corporate investigators work for corporations to conduct internal investigations. For instance, they can ensure that expense accounts are spent correctly, investigate drug use in the workplace or determine whether employees are stealing merchandise. Private investigators who work for corporations seek to stop any criminal activities.
  
  

Retail Work

• Hotel private investigators keep suspicious individuals off hotel property. They also protect guests of the hotel. For instance, they can keep order in hotel bars and restaurants and protect guests' property from being stolen. Private investigators are hired to work in stores and hotels. Loss prevention agents, or store detectives, work to protect the stores' assets, controlling losses. They can apprehend people who are trying to steal or destroy property. In addition, they can prepare security and loss prevention reports and testify in court.
  
  

Considerations

• Usually, private investigators have experience in the military, law enforcement, intelligence or government investigative jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is growing at a faster-than-average rate and 30 percent of all detectives are self-employed. They may work irregular hours and the work can be dangerous.