Child support investigator vs child protective investigator

The differences between child support investigators and child protective investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a child support investigator and a child protective investigator. Additionally, a child protective investigator has an average salary of $47,903, which is higher than the $47,732 average annual salary of a child support investigator.

The top three skills for a child support investigator include law enforcement agencies, protective services and child support orders. The most important skills for a child protective investigator are patrol, social work, and local law enforcement.

Child support investigator vs child protective investigator overview

	Child Support Investigator	Child Protective Investigator
Yearly salary	$47,732	$47,903
Hourly rate	$22.95	$23.03
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	75,493	15,938
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

Child support investigator vs child protective investigator salary

Child support investigators and child protective investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Child Support Investigator	Child Protective Investigator
Average salary	$47,732	$47,903
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $60,000	Between $37,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	-	Camden, NJ
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Saks Fifth Avenue
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between child support investigator and child protective investigator education

There are a few differences between a child support investigator and a child protective investigator in terms of educational background:

	Child Support Investigator	Child Protective Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY at Albany

Child support investigator vs child protective investigator demographics

Here are the differences between child support investigators' and child protective investigators' demographics:

	Child Support Investigator	Child Protective Investigator
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 32.7% Female, 67.3%	Male, 32.4% Female, 67.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between child support investigator and child protective investigator duties and responsibilities

Child support investigator example responsibilities.

Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
Provide information and support to transitioning foster youth during assessment, case planning or other permanency and transition-relate activities.
Perform related adoptions and supervisory visits for state adoptions.

Child protective investigator example responsibilities.

Utilize locating systems, negotiate agreements, file motions and prepare subpoenas.
Review and approve time sheets, mileage reports for CPI assign to the unit.
Complete timely findings including determining if someone should be place on the child abuse registry.
Investigate reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation that are report to the state abuse hotline.
Respond to Hotline reports, conduct child safety assessments, and determine immediate risk to child.
Review child safety assessments as submitted by CPI, and provide direction and guidance in the investigation.

Child support investigator vs child protective investigator skills

Common child support investigator skills

Law Enforcement Agencies, 11%
Protective Services, 7%
Child Support Orders, 7%
Child Care, 7%
Minimum Standards, 6%
Community Resources, 5%

Common child protective investigator skills

Patrol, 35%
Social Work, 16%
Local Law Enforcement, 7%
CCTV, 4%
Child Protective, 4%
Family Dynamics, 3%

Child Support Investigator vs. similar jobs

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Child Support Investigator
Child Support Investigator vs Child Protective Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

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