Narcotics agent vs special investigation unit investigator

The differences between narcotics agents and special investigation unit 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 special investigation unit investigator. Additionally, a narcotics agent has an average salary of $65,852, which is higher than the $49,213 average annual salary of a special investigation unit investigator.

The top three skills for a narcotics agent include patrol, criminal investigations and crime scenes. The most important skills for a special investigation unit investigator are management system, BSA/AML, and fincen.

Narcotics agent vs special investigation unit investigator overview

	Narcotics Agent	Special Investigation Unit Investigator
Yearly salary	$65,852	$49,213
Hourly rate	$31.66	$23.66
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	25,101	30,770
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

Narcotics agent vs special investigation unit investigator salary

Narcotics agents and special investigation unit investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Narcotics Agent	Special Investigation Unit Investigator
Average salary	$65,852	$49,213
Salary range	Between $44,000 And $97,000	Between $32,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between narcotics agent and special investigation unit investigator education

There are a few differences between a narcotics agent and a special investigation unit investigator in terms of educational background:

	Narcotics Agent	Special Investigation Unit Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Narcotics agent vs special investigation unit investigator demographics

Here are the differences between narcotics agents' and special investigation unit investigators' demographics:

	Narcotics Agent	Special Investigation Unit Investigator
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9%	Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0%
Race ratio	Black 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, 12.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between narcotics agent and special investigation unit 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.

Special investigation unit investigator example responsibilities.

Gather and analyze pertinent documentation, collect recorded statements, report fraud, and manage data in support of subsequent litigation.
Prepare cases for and follow through with civil litigation and criminal prosecution in multiple jurisdictions.
Participate in BSA/AML seminars and workshops to enhance knowledge on industry trends.
Prepare and serve subpoenas, rockland area, together with affidavits of service.
Secure subpoenas with the assistance of counsel for financial information, video surveillance and cellular records.
Perform detailed analytical account investigations pertaining to potential BSA/AML violations.

Narcotics agent vs special investigation unit investigator skills

Common narcotics agent skills

Patrol, 17%
Criminal Investigations, 14%
Crime Scenes, 11%
Law Enforcement Agencies, 10%
Electronic Surveillance, 9%
Subpoenas, 5%

Common special investigation unit investigator skills

Management System, 13%
BSA/AML, 9%
FinCEN, 7%
Anti-Money Laundering, 7%
Law Enforcement Agencies, 7%
Conduct Investigations, 7%

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Narcotics Agent
Narcotics Agent vs Special Investigation Unit Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

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