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The differences between investigative analysts and commercial analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an investigative analyst, becoming a commercial analyst takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an investigative analyst has an average salary of $125,975, which is higher than the $83,036 average annual salary of a commercial analyst.
The top three skills for an investigative analyst include criminal justice, external stakeholders and anti-money laundering. The most important skills for a commercial analyst are portfolio, data analysis, and financial statements.
| Investigative Analyst | Commercial Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $125,975 | $83,036 |
| Hourly rate | $60.56 | $39.92 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 28,703 | 54,953 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
An investigative analyst is responsible for handling and resolving suspicious activities that pose risks for an organization's reputation and stability. Investigative analysts review incident reports, such as fraud and other law violations, strategizing on effective ways to minimize losses and prevent misconduct reoccurrence. They collect evidence, including documents and interviews, to support their claims and record their findings. An investigative analyst must be highly communicative and organizational, as well as the ability to keep and secure confidential information until further notice.
A commercial analyst is responsible for evaluating the performance of business operations in the market, including consumer demands and sales analysis. Commercial analysts monitor the market trends, identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the business, as well as developing strategic approaches to attract potential clients and maintain long-lasting business relationships. They also manage the company's financial stability, reviewing competitors' activities, and recommending methods to maximize production operations and achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
Investigative analysts and commercial analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Investigative Analyst | Commercial Analyst | |
| Average salary | $125,975 | $83,036 |
| Salary range | Between $102,000 And $154,000 | Between $60,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Montana | New York |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Energy |
There are a few differences between an investigative analyst and a commercial analyst in terms of educational background:
| Investigative Analyst | Commercial Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between investigative analysts' and commercial analysts' demographics:
| Investigative Analyst | Commercial Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.9% Female, 55.1% | Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 10.7% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |