Investigator vs special investigator

The differences between investigators and special investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an investigator, becoming a special investigator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an investigator has an average salary of $71,406, which is higher than the $50,623 average annual salary of a special investigator.

The top three skills for an investigator include law enforcement agencies, management system and customer service. The most important skills for a special investigator are law enforcement agencies, background checks, and child abuse.

Investigator vs special investigator overview

	Investigator	Special Investigator
Yearly salary	$71,406	$50,623
Hourly rate	$34.33	$24.34
Growth rate	6%	3%
Number of jobs	5,085	14,799
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	6	2

What does an investigator do?

Criminal investigators play an essential role in criminal justice and law enforcement. Their job entails solving open cases that may take them weeks or even months to accomplish. Collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and arresting suspects are among their many tasks. They work at every level of criminal justice and law enforcement. For criminal investigators to succeed in their profession, they should have sound judgment, strong communication skills, ethical standards, physical fitness, and empathy. They also benefit from strong job prospects, in addition to an exciting and rewarding job.

What does a special investigator do?

A special investigator is responsible for gathering information and analyzing evidence to identify criminal activities and law-violating instances. Special investigators review surveillance devices, interview witnesses, and coordinate with law enforcement agencies to collect related reports. They sort and store documents securely on databases for reference, confirm statements, and assist in court procedures for in-depth investigation. A special investigator must be highly communicative and observational, especially in organizing materials and verifying information to support claims and file the appropriate legal actions.

Investigator vs special investigator salary

Investigators and special investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Investigator	Special Investigator
Average salary	$71,406	$50,623
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $119,000	Between $31,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Lompoc, CA
Highest paying state	California	Maryland
Best paying company	Apple	City of Los Angeles
Best paying industry	-	Insurance

Differences between investigator and special investigator education

There are a few differences between an investigator and a special investigator in terms of educational background:

	Investigator	Special Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	-

Investigator vs special investigator demographics

Here are the differences between investigators' and special investigators' demographics:

	Investigator	Special Investigator
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 56.6% Female, 43.4%	Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 4.7% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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	8%	9%

Differences between investigator and special investigator duties and responsibilities

Investigator example responsibilities.

Participate in and lead the controlled purchase of illegal narcotics and firearms to apprehend suspects.
Manage all business reporting to include; payroll, taxes, client billing, account reconciliations and compliance reports.
Manage corporate-wide document production relative to complex litigation cases.
Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
Collaborate with federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF and IRS.
Write a detail case report, and attach all supporting documentation necessary to write up SAR's where necessary per BSA.

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.

Investigator vs special investigator skills

Common investigator skills

Law Enforcement Agencies, 7%
Management System, 6%
Customer Service, 5%
Criminal Justice, 5%
Senior Level Management, 4%
Child Abuse, 4%

Common special investigator skills

Law Enforcement Agencies, 11%
Background Checks, 9%
Child Abuse, 7%
Insurance Claims, 5%
SIS, 5%
Local Law Enforcement, 4%

Investigator vs. similar jobs

Investigator related careers

Investigator related jobs

Investigator jobs by location

Zippia Careers
Protective Service Industry
Investigator
Investigator vs Special Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse protective service jobs