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The differences between law enforcement officers and criminal investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a criminal investigator has an average salary of $54,520, which is higher than the $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement officer.
The top three skills for a law enforcement officer include patrol, public safety and emergency situations. The most important skills for a criminal investigator are investigative reports, resourcefulness, and firearms.
| Law Enforcement Officer | Criminal Investigator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,219 | $54,520 |
| Hourly rate | $18.86 | $26.21 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 105,817 | 5,131 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The duties of a law enforcement officer depend on their line of work or agency of employment. In general, they are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, prioritizing the safety of citizens and the protection of the city. Typically, their responsibilities include patrolling their designated area, responding to distress, monitoring suspicious activities and characters, conducting investigations and inspections, and coordinating various services to assist citizens. Moreover, as a law enforcement officer, it is essential to serve as a role model for citizens and uphold the oath to serve and protect.
A criminal investigator is a law enforcement professional who endeavors to solve felony crimes. Criminal investigators may work alone or as a member of an investigative team whose goal is to uncover the certainty of a case and potentially keep suspects to prevent the ensuing criminal activity. Their tasks and responsibilities depend on various job functions and specialties. They may specialize in the information and evidence of a crime scene, conduct interviews and searches, or perform surveillance.
Law enforcement officers and criminal investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Law Enforcement Officer | Criminal Investigator | |
| Average salary | $39,219 | $54,520 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $34,000 And $85,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | University of Nebraska System | National Railroad Passenger Corporation |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a law enforcement officer and a criminal investigator in terms of educational background:
| Law Enforcement Officer | Criminal Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | - |
Here are the differences between law enforcement officers' and criminal investigators' demographics:
| Law Enforcement Officer | Criminal Investigator | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.1% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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 | 7% | 9% |