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The differences between background investigators and police officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a police officer has an average salary of $52,638, 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 police officer are patrol, public safety, and law enforcement agencies.
| Background Investigator | Police Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $51,076 | $52,638 |
| Hourly rate | $24.56 | $25.31 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 4,428 | 116,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| 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.
Police officers are responsible for keeping peace and security in a community. They uphold and enforce the law. They ensure that people in their assigned community follow the law. They also ensure that proper sanctions are given out to anyone who does not follow. Some police officers are assigned in the field, meaning they work outside of police stations. Those assigned to police stations are responsible for maintaining administrative matters as well, aside from maintaining peace and order. Police officers are expected to be trustworthy, to work with honor, and to keep their integrity intact.
Background investigators and police officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Background Investigator | Police Officer | |
| Average salary | $51,076 | $52,638 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $90,000 | Between $38,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a background investigator and a police officer in terms of educational background:
| Background Investigator | Police Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| 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 police officers' demographics:
| Background Investigator | Police Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.6% Female, 50.4% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| 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, 12.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |