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The differences between background investigators and detention officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a background investigator has an average salary of $51,076, which is higher than the $40,087 average annual salary of a detention officer.
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 detention officer are detention facility, direct supervision, and booking.
| Background Investigator | Detention Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $51,076 | $40,087 |
| Hourly rate | $24.56 | $19.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -10% |
| Number of jobs | 4,428 | 116,529 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| 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 role of detention officers is to supervise inmates in state detention facilities. They are responsible for ensuring the safe imprisonment of detainees, managing conflict between detainees, and reporting inappropriate behavior to the warden. Other responsibilities include providing inmates the opportunity to call a lawyer or a relative, performing periodic patrol of the jail area, and supervising inmates during meals and related activities. They are also responsible for ensuring the cleanliness of personal and cell equipment and distributing medicines to inmates as directed.
Background investigators and detention officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Background Investigator | Detention Officer | |
| Average salary | $51,076 | $40,087 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $90,000 | Between $29,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Bering Straits |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a background investigator and a detention officer in terms of educational background:
| Background Investigator | Detention Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between background investigators' and detention officers' demographics:
| Background Investigator | Detention Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.6% Female, 50.4% | Male, 61.0% Female, 39.0% |
| 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, 15.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 2.0% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |