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Criminal investigative agent vs detective

The differences between criminal investigative agents and detectives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a detective has an average salary of $57,984, which is higher than the $56,775 average annual salary of a criminal investigative agent.

The top three skills for a criminal investigative agent include physical evidence, law enforcement agencies and surveillance operations. The most important skills for a detective are physical evidence, patrol, and law enforcement agencies.

Criminal investigative agent vs detective overview

Criminal Investigative AgentDetective
Yearly salary$56,775$57,984
Hourly rate$27.30$27.88
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs25,83456,521
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4444
Years of experience2-

Criminal investigative agent vs detective salary

Criminal investigative agents and detectives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Criminal Investigative AgentDetective
Average salary$56,775$57,984
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $83,000Between $35,000 And $95,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between criminal investigative agent and detective education

There are a few differences between a criminal investigative agent and a detective in terms of educational background:

Criminal Investigative AgentDetective
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college-University of Arizona

Criminal investigative agent vs detective demographics

Here are the differences between criminal investigative agents' and detectives' demographics:

Criminal Investigative AgentDetective
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 79.0% Female, 21.0%Male, 82.7% Female, 17.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between criminal investigative agent and detective duties and responsibilities

Criminal investigative agent example responsibilities.

  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Deliver subpoenas and other legal requirements.
  • Provide direction and guidance on several high-profile homicide investigations, as well as numerous additional criminal and narcotics investigations.
  • Collect and disseminate intelligence and threat information concerning foreign intelligence and international terrorism to support commands using HUMINT sources.

Detective example responsibilities.

  • Manage all ABC issues and applications for liquor licenses.
  • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
  • Monitor wire taps and conduct detailed surveillance of wire tap targets and associates.
  • Sole provider of data gathering from TIGTA's complaint management system and the IRS for biweekly phishing scam reports.
  • Connect GPS devices/recorder/audio/video by hard wiring to vehicle power for longer operations.
  • Optimize critical security of dignitaries by proficiently conducting foot and vehicle patrol of concentration areas.
  • Show more

Criminal investigative agent vs detective skills

Common criminal investigative agent skills
  • Physical Evidence, 14%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 9%
  • Surveillance Operations, 8%
  • Subpoenas, 7%
  • Investigative Reports, 6%
  • Documentary Evidence, 5%
Common detective skills
  • Physical Evidence, 15%
  • Patrol, 13%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 8%
  • Crime Scenes, 5%
  • Insurance Fraud, 5%
  • Public Safety, 5%

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