What is the job description for a detective?

A detective collects evidence and gathers facts relating to potential crimes; some detectives are called agents or special agents. Detectives usually have a high school diploma and may have a college degree. Most are required to graduate from a special training academy devised by the particular agencies for which they want to work.

The median pay for detectives in 2012 was $56,980, or approximately $27.40 per hour, according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The need for detectives and police officers is expected to grow slightly by 2022, with an estimated 5 percent growth or 41,400 jobs added to the already 780,000 jobs already in the field.