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The differences between loss prevention agents 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 $36,455 average annual salary of a loss prevention agent.
The top three skills for a loss prevention agent include loss prevention, store management and sales floor. The most important skills for a criminal investigator are investigative reports, resourcefulness, and firearms.
| Loss Prevention Agent | Criminal Investigator | |
| Yearly salary | $36,455 | $54,520 |
| Hourly rate | $17.53 | $26.21 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 103,534 | 5,131 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 33 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A loss prevention agent is responsible for averting theft and securing a retail store or similar establishment. They are primarily in charge of monitoring surveillance cameras and roaming around the premises while dressed in civilian clothing, all to observe the surroundings and spot any suspicious behavior. Furthermore, a loss prevention agent must adhere to the policies and standards of the establishment, implement safety and security measures, and coordinate with the police should there be any person caught stealing.
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.
Loss prevention agents and criminal investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Loss Prevention Agent | Criminal Investigator | |
| Average salary | $36,455 | $54,520 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $62,000 | Between $34,000 And $85,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | Compliance | National Railroad Passenger Corporation |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Government |
There are a few differences between a loss prevention agent and a criminal investigator in terms of educational background:
| Loss Prevention Agent | Criminal Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between loss prevention agents' and criminal investigators' demographics:
| Loss Prevention Agent | Criminal Investigator | |
| Average age | 33 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% | Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |