Post job

Detective sergeant vs special agent

The differences between detective sergeants and special agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special agent has an average salary of $60,916, which is higher than the $52,546 average annual salary of a detective sergeant.

The top three skills for a detective sergeant include patrol, evidence collection and law enforcement agencies. The most important skills for a special agent are professional work, national security, and local law enforcement.

Detective sergeant vs special agent overview

Detective SergeantSpecial Agent
Yearly salary$52,546$60,916
Hourly rate$25.26$29.29
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs93846,232
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4644
Years of experience-2

Detective sergeant vs special agent salary

Detective sergeants and special agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Detective SergeantSpecial Agent
Average salary$52,546$60,916
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $67,000Between $43,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-BNSF Railway
Best paying industry--

Differences between detective sergeant and special agent education

There are a few differences between a detective sergeant and a special agent in terms of educational background:

Detective SergeantSpecial Agent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common collegePennsylvania State University-

Detective sergeant vs special agent demographics

Here are the differences between detective sergeants' and special agents' demographics:

Detective SergeantSpecial Agent
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 93.7% Female, 6.3%Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 1.8% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage11%9%

Differences between detective sergeant and special agent duties and responsibilities

Detective sergeant example responsibilities.

  • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
  • Assist in writing standards for certification for the firearms unit.
  • Supervise detective squad, identify monthly investigation outcomes, create staffing schedules, perform stake-outs, monitor wire taps ,
  • Establish probable cause to obtain warrants, leading to arrests and the seizure of narcotics, firearms and other contraband.
  • Deliver subpoenas and other documents as requested by attorneys.
  • Supervise detectives attaining search warrants, subpoenas and financial/phone/computer records.
  • Show more

Special agent example responsibilities.

  • Manage a team of field supervisors on a project to modernize and improve the ATF system of office inspection.
  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Follow up on tips receive from a variety of sources, including patrol officers, community members, and confidential informants.
  • Conduct detailed and precise SIU investigations involving insurance fraud.
  • Authore products highly praise by senior FBI and DOJ officials.
  • Interview witnesses, gather evidence and prepare cases for litigation.
  • Show more

Detective sergeant vs special agent skills

Common detective sergeant skills
  • Patrol, 20%
  • Evidence Collection, 10%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 10%
  • Homicide, 6%
  • Burglary, 4%
  • Criminal Cases, 4%
Common special agent skills
  • Professional Work, 73%
  • National Security, 8%
  • Local Law Enforcement, 5%
  • Search Warrants, 2%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 2%
  • Counterintelligence Investigations, 1%

Browse protective service jobs