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Narcotics agent vs internal affairs investigator

The differences between narcotics agents and internal affairs 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 an internal affairs investigator. Additionally, a narcotics agent has an average salary of $65,852, which is higher than the $54,189 average annual salary of an internal affairs investigator.

The top three skills for a narcotics agent include patrol, criminal investigations and crime scenes. The most important skills for an internal affairs investigator are patrol, background checks, and conduct interviews.

Narcotics agent vs internal affairs investigator overview

Narcotics AgentInternal Affairs Investigator
Yearly salary$65,852$54,189
Hourly rate$31.66$26.05
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs25,10115,880
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Narcotics agent vs internal affairs investigator salary

Narcotics agents and internal affairs investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Narcotics AgentInternal Affairs Investigator
Average salary$65,852$54,189
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $97,000Between $25,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-Maryland
Best paying company-Amazon
Best paying industry--

Differences between narcotics agent and internal affairs investigator education

There are a few differences between a narcotics agent and an internal affairs investigator in terms of educational background:

Narcotics AgentInternal Affairs Investigator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Narcotics agent vs internal affairs investigator demographics

Here are the differences between narcotics agents' and internal affairs investigators' demographics:

Narcotics AgentInternal Affairs Investigator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 88.1% Female, 11.9%Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0%
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, 11.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between narcotics agent and internal affairs 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.

Internal affairs investigator example responsibilities.

  • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
  • Deploy technical surveillance (CCTV) to protect corporate proprietary information and assets.
  • Used exception reports, CCTV and interview to determine loss and make decision on resolution of the case.
  • Testify at criminal, civil, administration, arbitration and/or deposition hearings.
  • Investigate and open cases on customers and non-customers who have potentially engage in activity which goes against federally mandate BSA/AML regulations.
  • Conduct extensive research and case file preparation for due process hearings such as pre-disciplinary conferences and arbitrations.
  • Show more

Narcotics agent vs internal affairs investigator skills

Common narcotics agent skills
  • Patrol, 17%
  • Criminal Investigations, 14%
  • Crime Scenes, 11%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 10%
  • Electronic Surveillance, 9%
  • Subpoenas, 5%
Common internal affairs investigator skills
  • Patrol, 22%
  • Background Checks, 10%
  • Conduct Interviews, 8%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 8%
  • Narrative Reports, 5%
  • Administrative Hearings, 5%

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