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Drug enforcement agent vs postal inspector

The differences between drug enforcement agents and postal inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a drug enforcement agent and a postal inspector. Additionally, a postal inspector has an average salary of $68,901, which is higher than the $65,372 average annual salary of a drug enforcement agent.

The top three skills for a drug enforcement agent include patrol, DEA and law enforcement agencies. The most important skills for a postal inspector are bank fraud, law enforcement agencies, and criminal investigations.

Drug enforcement agent vs postal inspector overview

Drug Enforcement AgentPostal Inspector
Yearly salary$65,372$68,901
Hourly rate$31.43$33.13
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs26,26820,088
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Drug enforcement agent vs postal inspector salary

Drug enforcement agents and postal inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Drug Enforcement AgentPostal Inspector
Average salary$65,372$68,901
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $107,000Between $39,000 And $119,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between drug enforcement agent and postal inspector education

There are a few differences between a drug enforcement agent and a postal inspector in terms of educational background:

Drug Enforcement AgentPostal Inspector
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Drug enforcement agent vs postal inspector demographics

Here are the differences between drug enforcement agents' and postal inspectors' demographics:

Drug Enforcement AgentPostal Inspector
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 70.2% Female, 29.8%Male, 76.1% Female, 23.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between drug enforcement agent and postal inspector duties and responsibilities

Drug enforcement agent example responsibilities.

  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Assist DDA with administrative personnel matters.
  • Serve administrative subpoenas for patient documents, prescription profiles, and phone tolls to obtain pertinent information for investigations.
  • Guide and advise lead security managers for major defense contractors and countless other DOD organizations, regarding their security programs.
  • Guide and advise lead security managers for major defense contractors and countless other DOD organizations, regarding their security programs.

Postal inspector example responsibilities.

  • Manage customs service's facility and team in the immediate AO to active military and DoD civilians.
  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Experience obtaining grand jury subpoenas and have obtained and serve federal search, arrest and asset forfeiture warrants.
  • Perform background investigations of employees applying for security positions within the USPS.
  • Review and enforce the application of state laws and regulations pertaining to the CDFA.
  • Serve subpoenas to witnesses, suspects, financial institutions, internet service providers, etc.
  • Show more

Drug enforcement agent vs postal inspector skills

Common drug enforcement agent skills
  • Patrol, 35%
  • DEA, 19%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 14%
  • Criminal Investigations, 10%
  • Drug Enforcement Administration, 5%
  • Enforcement Administration, 5%
Common postal inspector skills
  • Bank Fraud, 15%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 12%
  • Criminal Investigations, 9%
  • Postal Service, 9%
  • Subpoenas, 8%
  • Inspection Services, 7%

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