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The differences between lead investigators and senior investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a lead investigator, becoming a senior investigator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior investigator has an average salary of $61,240, which is higher than the $60,060 average annual salary of a lead investigator.
The top three skills for a lead investigator include law enforcement agencies, background investigations and data analysis. The most important skills for a senior investigator are senior level management, local law enforcement, and claims handling.
| Lead Investigator | Senior Investigator | |
| Yearly salary | $60,060 | $61,240 |
| Hourly rate | $28.88 | $29.44 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 21,299 | 4,525 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
As a senior investigator, you will be responsible for managing investigations for crimes, including corruption, organized crime, and fraud. You will work closely with the district attorney and law enforcement to investigate and solve these crimes. This role will require you to perform other additional duties, including collecting DNA samples from the crime scene, suspects and victims, organizing live training on risk, compliance, and ethics, and testifying in criminal and civil courts, civil service hearings, and ethics commission.
Lead investigators and senior investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Investigator | Senior Investigator | |
| Average salary | $60,060 | $61,240 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $113,000 | Between $35,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Frederick, MD |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Maryland |
| Best paying company | BNY Mellon | DLA Piper |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead investigator and a senior investigator in terms of educational background:
| Lead Investigator | Senior Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between lead investigators' and senior investigators' demographics:
| Lead Investigator | Senior Investigator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4% | Male, 65.4% Female, 34.6% |
| 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, 16.8% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |