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Drug enforcement agent vs special investigator

The differences between drug enforcement agents and special investigators 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 investigator. Additionally, a drug enforcement agent has an average salary of $65,372, which is higher than the $50,623 average annual salary of a special investigator.

The top three skills for a drug enforcement agent include patrol, DEA and law enforcement agencies. The most important skills for a special investigator are law enforcement agencies, background checks, and child abuse.

Drug enforcement agent vs special investigator overview

Drug Enforcement AgentSpecial Investigator
Yearly salary$65,372$50,623
Hourly rate$31.43$24.34
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs26,26814,799
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Drug enforcement agent vs special investigator salary

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

Drug Enforcement AgentSpecial Investigator
Average salary$65,372$50,623
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $107,000Between $31,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City-Lompoc, CA
Highest paying state-Maryland
Best paying company-City of Los Angeles
Best paying industry-Insurance

Differences between drug enforcement agent and special investigator education

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

Drug Enforcement AgentSpecial Investigator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Drug enforcement agent vs special investigator demographics

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

Drug Enforcement AgentSpecial Investigator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 70.2% Female, 29.8%Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5%
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, 16.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between drug enforcement agent and special investigator 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 investigator example responsibilities.

  • Gather and analyze pertinent documentation, collect recorded statements, report fraud, and manage data in support of subsequent litigation.
  • Gather and analyze pertinent documentation, collect recorded statements, report fraud, and manage data in support of subsequent litigation.
  • Complete a DMV check to verify applicant identity.
  • Conduct in-depth financial investigations to determine patient's eligibility for Medicaid.
  • Ensure compliance of all plans and documentation by researching employment history, criminal records, civil filings, and DMV records.
  • Use specify techniques to safeguard PII including daily case document check out and bi-weekly case retention manifests.
  • Show more

Drug enforcement agent vs special investigator 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 investigator skills
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 11%
  • Background Checks, 9%
  • Child Abuse, 7%
  • Insurance Claims, 5%
  • SIS, 5%
  • Local Law Enforcement, 4%

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