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The differences between investigative analysts and credit officers 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 credit officer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a credit officer has an average salary of $129,478, which is higher than the $125,975 average annual salary of an investigative analyst.
The top three skills for an investigative analyst include criminal justice, external stakeholders and anti-money laundering. The most important skills for a credit officer are risk management, credit risk, and credit analysis.
| Investigative Analyst | Credit Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $125,975 | $129,478 |
| Hourly rate | $60.56 | $62.25 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 28,703 | 60,323 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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 credit officer is responsible for evaluating financial documents and account statements to determine the eligibility of an applicant for a loan option. Credit officers communicate with the applicant to discuss the loan process, explain the terms of service, and provide them alternative options that would fit their payment ability and loan needs. They create financial reports and recommend the qualified applicant to the manager for approval. A credit officer should have excellent communication and analytical skills, ensuring that the loan policies adhere to the federal and state regulations.
Investigative analysts and credit officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Investigative Analyst | Credit Officer | |
| Average salary | $125,975 | $129,478 |
| Salary range | Between $102,000 And $154,000 | Between $85,000 And $196,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Montana | New York |
| Best paying company | Meta | Farm Credit System |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between an investigative analyst and a credit officer in terms of educational background:
| Investigative Analyst | Credit Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between investigative analysts' and credit officers' demographics:
| Investigative Analyst | Credit Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.9% Female, 55.1% | Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 10.7% White, 68.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |