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The differences between case investigators and private investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a case investigator, becoming a private investigator takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a case investigator has an average salary of $55,196, which is higher than the $48,019 average annual salary of a private investigator.
The top three skills for a case investigator include management system, litigation and background investigations. The most important skills for a private investigator are background checks, background investigations, and video surveillance.
Case investigators and private investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Case Investigator | Private Investigator | |
| Average salary | $55,196 | $48,019 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $98,000 | Between $29,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Irvine, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | - |
| Best paying company | The Travelers Companies | - |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | - |
There are a few differences between a case investigator and a private investigator in terms of educational background:
| Case Investigator | Private Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between case investigators' and private investigators' demographics:
| Case Investigator | Private Investigator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% | Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |