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The differences between background investigators and deputies can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a deputy has an average salary of $53,682, which is higher than the $51,076 average annual salary of a background investigator.
The top three skills for a background investigator include excellent time management, work ethic and face-to-face interviews. The most important skills for a deputy are patrol, public safety, and transport inmates.
| Background Investigator | Deputy | |
| Yearly salary | $51,076 | $53,682 |
| Hourly rate | $24.56 | $25.81 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 4,428 | 56,150 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
The primary job of background investigators is to conduct background checks into an individual's personal and professional history that can validate or disprove their identity and character. They perform background investigations as part of hiring new employees, making an investment, and choosing a public official. Background investigators are responsible for obtaining and reviewing witness statements and arrest reports and meeting with candidates or the management to keep them updated on the investigation's progress and status. They are also responsible for completing background packages for final review and recommendation.
The duties of a deputy vary on their line of work or place of employment. In law enforcement, a deputy is primarily in charge of conducting investigations on crimes and arresting criminals, performing regular patrols on streets, responding to calls of distress, and assisting citizens in calamities, disasters, accidents, or any forms of threat. There are also instances when a deputy must serve court documents, transport detainees or suspected criminals, and monitor courtrooms. Furthermore, a deputy reports to higher-ranking officers such as a sheriff.
Background investigators and deputies have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Background Investigator | Deputy | |
| Average salary | $51,076 | $53,682 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $90,000 | Between $31,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Barclays |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a background investigator and a deputy in terms of educational background:
| Background Investigator | Deputy | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between background investigators' and deputies' demographics:
| Background Investigator | Deputy | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.6% Female, 50.4% | Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.2% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 4.6% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 3.5% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |