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The differences between lead investigators and police officers 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 $52,638 average annual salary of a police officer.
The top three skills for a lead investigator include law enforcement agencies, background investigations and data analysis. The most important skills for a police officer are patrol, public safety, and law enforcement agencies.
| Lead Investigator | Police Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $60,060 | $52,638 |
| Hourly rate | $28.88 | $25.31 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 21,299 | 116,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
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.
Police officers are responsible for keeping peace and security in a community. They uphold and enforce the law. They ensure that people in their assigned community follow the law. They also ensure that proper sanctions are given out to anyone who does not follow. Some police officers are assigned in the field, meaning they work outside of police stations. Those assigned to police stations are responsible for maintaining administrative matters as well, aside from maintaining peace and order. Police officers are expected to be trustworthy, to work with honor, and to keep their integrity intact.
Lead investigators and police officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Investigator | Police Officer | |
| Average salary | $60,060 | $52,638 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $113,000 | Between $38,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BNY Mellon | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Government |
There are a few differences between a lead investigator and a police officer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Investigator | Police Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between lead investigators' and police officers' demographics:
| Lead Investigator | Police Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| 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, 12.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |