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Drug enforcement agent vs special agent

The differences between drug enforcement agents and special agents 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 special agent. Additionally, a drug enforcement agent has an average salary of $65,372, which is higher than the $60,916 average annual salary of a special agent.

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

Drug enforcement agent vs special agent overview

Drug Enforcement AgentSpecial Agent
Yearly salary$65,372$60,916
Hourly rate$31.43$29.29
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs26,26846,232
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Drug enforcement agent vs special agent salary

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

Drug Enforcement AgentSpecial Agent
Average salary$65,372$60,916
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $107,000Between $43,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-BNSF Railway
Best paying industry--

Differences between drug enforcement agent and special agent education

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

Drug Enforcement AgentSpecial Agent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Drug enforcement agent vs special agent demographics

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

Drug Enforcement AgentSpecial Agent
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 70.2% Female, 29.8%Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9%
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, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between drug enforcement agent and special agent 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.

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

Drug enforcement agent vs special agent 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 special agent skills
  • Professional Work, 73%
  • National Security, 8%
  • Local Law Enforcement, 5%
  • Search Warrants, 2%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 2%
  • Counterintelligence Investigations, 1%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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