Lead investigator vs criminal investigator

The differences between lead investigators and criminal investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead investigator has an average salary of $60,060, which is higher than the $54,520 average annual salary of a criminal investigator.

The top three skills for a lead investigator include law enforcement agencies, background investigations and data analysis. The most important skills for a criminal investigator are investigative reports, resourcefulness, and firearms.

Lead investigator vs criminal investigator overview

	Lead Investigator	Criminal Investigator
Yearly salary	$60,060	$54,520
Hourly rate	$28.88	$26.21
Growth rate	6%	3%
Number of jobs	21,299	5,131
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	6	-

What does a lead investigator do?

Lead investigators are responsible for gathering information from both eyewitnesses and suspects. They have to untangle the crime scene for possible clues like DNA, fingerprints, physical evidence, and more. They document the scene by taking photos or by using Leica scanners to capture every detail of the crime scene. Also, they take evidence, processed them, preserve records, and then present the evidence to courts. Additionally, they, at times, procure supplies and items essential for an investigation like identifications apparatus. Lead investigators must know the state, federal, and local laws regarding police operations, investigative procedures as well as evidence safekeeping and demolition.

What does a criminal investigator do?

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.

Lead investigator vs criminal investigator salary

Lead investigators and criminal investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Lead Investigator	Criminal Investigator
Average salary	$60,060	$54,520
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $113,000	Between $34,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City	South San Francisco, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Delaware	California
Best paying company	BNY Mellon	National Railroad Passenger Corporation
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Government

Differences between lead investigator and criminal investigator education

There are a few differences between a lead investigator and a criminal investigator in terms of educational background:

	Lead Investigator	Criminal Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	-

Lead investigator vs criminal investigator demographics

Here are the differences between lead investigators' and criminal investigators' demographics:

	Lead Investigator	Criminal Investigator
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4%	Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.6% White, 57.9% 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 lead investigator and criminal investigator duties and responsibilities

Lead investigator example responsibilities.

Manage corporate-wide document production relative to complex litigation cases.
Require to testify at court appearances in response to research pertaining to various types of subpoenas.
Develop procedures for and review incoming referrals from internal departments and subpoenas to determine if a full investigation are warranted.
Ensure effective prioritization of investigation through supervision and monitor & review investigative activity and outcomes using CCTV & by running reports.
Investigate and open cases on customers and non-customers who have potentially engage in activity which goes against federally mandate BSA/AML regulations.
Generate records by interrogatories or name, date of birth and social security number.

Criminal investigator example responsibilities.

Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
Close accounts and file SAR's with FinCEN as warranted.
Write suspicious activity reports (SAR).
Follow up on sub reviews and documentation require information for FinCEN reporting.
Coordinate and conduct firearms training.
Examine discovery, prepare subpoenas, and review pertinent documents.

Lead investigator vs criminal investigator skills

Common lead investigator skills

Law Enforcement Agencies, 9%
Background Investigations, 9%
Data Analysis, 8%
Corrective Action, 8%
Criminal Justice, 7%
Loss Prevention, 7%

Common criminal investigator skills

Investigative Reports, 13%
Resourcefulness, 11%
Firearms, 11%
Treasury, 9%
Investigative Techniques, 8%
IRS, 6%

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Lead Investigator vs Criminal Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

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