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Narcotics agent vs crime scene investigator

The differences between narcotics agents and crime scene investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a narcotics agent and a crime scene investigator. Additionally, a narcotics agent has an average salary of $65,852, which is higher than the $59,391 average annual salary of a crime scene investigator.

The top three skills for a narcotics agent include patrol, criminal investigations and crime scenes. The most important skills for a crime scene investigator are physical evidence, criminal justice, and law enforcement agencies.

Narcotics agent vs crime scene investigator overview

Narcotics AgentCrime Scene Investigator
Yearly salary$65,852$59,391
Hourly rate$31.66$28.55
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs25,1014,621
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Narcotics agent vs crime scene investigator salary

Narcotics agents and crime scene investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Narcotics AgentCrime Scene Investigator
Average salary$65,852$59,391
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $97,000Between $30,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between narcotics agent and crime scene investigator education

There are a few differences between a narcotics agent and a crime scene investigator in terms of educational background:

Narcotics AgentCrime Scene Investigator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Narcotics agent vs crime scene investigator demographics

Here are the differences between narcotics agents' and crime scene investigators' demographics:

Narcotics AgentCrime Scene Investigator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 88.1% Female, 11.9%Male, 61.0% Female, 39.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between narcotics agent and crime scene investigator duties and responsibilities

Narcotics agent example responsibilities.

  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Conduct searches of all Latin American and Caribbean AA flights inbound and outbound for illegal narcotics and firearms.
  • Review all complete DEA integrity/misconduct investigations, shooting investigations, accidents with government vehicles and property loss or damage negligence/liability reports.
  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.

Crime scene investigator example responsibilities.

  • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
  • Investigate and open cases on customers and non-customers who have potentially engage in activity which goes against federally mandate BSA/AML regulations.
  • Review wire transfers and apply regulatory reporting and banking requirements to ensure compliance with BSA/AML and OFAC rules and regulations.
  • Conduct OFAC alert investigation using global standard policies, procedures and tools aim at meeting internal and external regulatory requirements.
  • Serve as firstresponder for accidents and disasters, applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other life- saving procedures as needed.

Narcotics agent vs crime scene investigator skills

Common narcotics agent skills
  • Patrol, 17%
  • Criminal Investigations, 14%
  • Crime Scenes, 11%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 10%
  • Electronic Surveillance, 9%
  • Subpoenas, 5%
Common crime scene investigator skills
  • Physical Evidence, 17%
  • Criminal Justice, 10%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 8%
  • Laboratory Analysis, 5%
  • Patrol, 5%
  • AML, 4%

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