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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 agents and special investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drug Enforcement Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Average salary | $65,372 | $50,623 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $107,000 | Between $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 |
There are a few differences between a drug enforcement agent and a special investigator in terms of educational background:
| Drug Enforcement Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between drug enforcement agents' and special investigators' demographics:
| Drug Enforcement Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8% | Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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 Percentage | 9% | 9% |