Lead investigator vs detective

The differences between lead investigators and detectives 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 $57,984 average annual salary of a detective.

The top three skills for a lead investigator include law enforcement agencies, background investigations and data analysis. The most important skills for a detective are physical evidence, patrol, and law enforcement agencies.

Lead investigator vs detective overview

	Lead Investigator	Detective
Yearly salary	$60,060	$57,984
Hourly rate	$28.88	$27.88
Growth rate	6%	3%
Number of jobs	21,299	56,521
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
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 detective do?

A detective is responsible for conducting in-depth investigations for criminal activities, potential threats, and other law-violating incidents, coordinating closely with law-enforcement agencies and crime intelligence analysts. Detectives often work on the field, gathering data and related evidence to support claims and connect the timeline of events. They keep an organized record of their findings for further validation before reporting it to the authority. A detective must have excellent investigative and critical-thinking skills, especially on solving puzzles and security solutions.

Lead investigator vs detective salary

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

	Lead Investigator	Detective
Average salary	$60,060	$57,984
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $113,000	Between $35,000 And $95,000
Highest paying City	South San Francisco, CA	-
Highest paying state	Delaware	-
Best paying company	BNY Mellon	-
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	-

Differences between lead investigator and detective education

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

	Lead Investigator	Detective
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	University of Arizona

Lead investigator vs detective demographics

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

	Lead Investigator	Detective
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4%	Male, 82.7% Female, 17.3%
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, 16.7% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	8%	9%

Differences between lead investigator and detective 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.

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Detective example responsibilities.

Manage all ABC issues and applications for liquor licenses.
Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
Monitor wire taps and conduct detailed surveillance of wire tap targets and associates.
Sole provider of data gathering from TIGTA's complaint management system and the IRS for biweekly phishing scam reports.
Connect GPS devices/recorder/audio/video by hard wiring to vehicle power for longer operations.
Optimize critical security of dignitaries by proficiently conducting foot and vehicle patrol of concentration areas.

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Lead investigator vs detective 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 detective skills

Physical Evidence, 15%
Patrol, 13%
Law Enforcement Agencies, 8%
Crime Scenes, 5%
Insurance Fraud, 5%
Public Safety, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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