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The differences between criminal investigators and police cadets can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a criminal investigator has an average salary of $54,520, which is higher than the $33,243 average annual salary of a police cadet.
The top three skills for a criminal investigator include investigative reports, resourcefulness and firearms. The most important skills for a police cadet are patrol, traffic control, and public safety.
| Criminal Investigator | Police Cadet | |
| Yearly salary | $54,520 | $33,243 |
| Hourly rate | $26.21 | $15.98 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 5,131 | 94,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A criminal investigator is a law enforcement professional who endeavors to solve felony crimes. Criminal investigators may work alone or as a member of an investigative team whose goal is to uncover the certainty of a case and potentially keep suspects to prevent the ensuing criminal activity. Their tasks and responsibilities depend on various job functions and specialties. They may specialize in the information and evidence of a crime scene, conduct interviews and searches, or perform surveillance.
Police cadets require multiple police department-relevant skills in traffic control, police reports, public safety, and special events. Those who choose this career will be responsible for participating in training programs that will introduce them to the fundamentals of law enforcement and prepare them for becoming police officers, supporting police operations like traffic control, working on criminal investigation, and performing administrative duties at the station.
Criminal investigators and police cadets have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Criminal Investigator | Police Cadet | |
| Average salary | $54,520 | $33,243 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $85,000 | Between $23,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | National Railroad Passenger Corporation | Meridian Township |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a criminal investigator and a police cadet in terms of educational background:
| Criminal Investigator | Police Cadet | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between criminal investigators' and police cadets' demographics:
| Criminal Investigator | Police Cadet | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3% | Male, 63.4% Female, 36.6% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |