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The differences between investigators assistants and patrol officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an investigators assistant has an average salary of $44,686, which is higher than the $35,621 average annual salary of a patrol officer.
The top three skills for an investigators assistant include background checks, physical evidence and law enforcement agencies. The most important skills for a patrol officer are patrol, customer service, and public safety.
| Investigators Assistant | Patrol Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $44,686 | $35,621 |
| Hourly rate | $21.48 | $17.13 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 16,836 | 123,265 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
As the name entails, the job of an investigator's assistant is to perform office duties and field jobs to support investigations into criminal justice and criminal cases. Typical duties will include processing legal documents and reports such as subpoenas and complaints, collecting fingerprints, police reports, and background checks, and interviewing victims and witnesses. Additionally, as an investigator's assistant, you are responsible for reviewing criminal background checks and conducting research on new social trends. You will also be responsible for preparing payroll and delegating and coordinating multiple projects under a tight deadline.
The job of patrol officers is to enforce ordinances, laws, prevent crime, control crowds, arrest violators, and regulate traffic. They also perform other duties that may include monitoring an assigned area for unauthorized or suspicious activity, responding to reports of emergencies and possible crime such as robberies, and building good relationships with community members. To be a successful patrol officer, you should have solid judgment, excellent communication skills, and decision-making skills in stressful situations.
Investigators assistants and patrol officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Investigators Assistant | Patrol Officer | |
| Average salary | $44,686 | $35,621 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $85,000 | Between $27,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | Mount St. Mary's University |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between an investigators assistant and a patrol officer in terms of educational background:
| Investigators Assistant | Patrol Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between investigators assistants' and patrol officers' demographics:
| Investigators Assistant | Patrol Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.8% Female, 64.2% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |