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The differences between background investigators and patrol 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 $35,621 average annual salary of a patrol 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 patrol officer are patrol, customer service, and public safety.
| Background Investigator | Patrol Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $51,076 | $35,621 |
| Hourly rate | $24.56 | $17.13 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 4,428 | 123,265 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| 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 job of patrol officers is to enforce ordinances, laws, prevent crime, control crowds, arrest violators, and regulate traffic. They also perform other duties that may include monitoring an assigned area for unauthorized or suspicious activity, responding to reports of emergencies and possible crime such as robberies, and building good relationships with community members. To be a successful patrol officer, you should have solid judgment, excellent communication skills, and decision-making skills in stressful situations.
Background investigators and patrol officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Background Investigator | Patrol Officer | |
| Average salary | $51,076 | $35,621 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $90,000 | Between $27,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | - | Mount St. Mary's University |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a background investigator and a patrol officer in terms of educational background:
| Background Investigator | Patrol Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between background investigators' and patrol officers' demographics:
| Background Investigator | Patrol Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.6% Female, 50.4% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| 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, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |