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The differences between background investigators and law enforcement 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 $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement 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 law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.
| Background Investigator | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $51,076 | $39,219 |
| Hourly rate | $24.56 | $18.86 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 4,428 | 105,817 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| 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 law enforcement officer depend on their line of work or agency of employment. In general, they are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, prioritizing the safety of citizens and the protection of the city. Typically, their responsibilities include patrolling their designated area, responding to distress, monitoring suspicious activities and characters, conducting investigations and inspections, and coordinating various services to assist citizens. Moreover, as a law enforcement officer, it is essential to serve as a role model for citizens and uphold the oath to serve and protect.
Background investigators and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Background Investigator | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average salary | $51,076 | $39,219 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $90,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | University of Nebraska System |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a background investigator and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:
| Background Investigator | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between background investigators' and law enforcement officers' demographics:
| Background Investigator | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.6% Female, 50.4% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| 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, 13.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.1% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |