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Postal inspector vs criminal investigative agent

The differences between postal inspectors and criminal investigative agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a postal inspector and a criminal investigative agent. Additionally, a postal inspector has an average salary of $68,901, which is higher than the $56,775 average annual salary of a criminal investigative agent.

The top three skills for a postal inspector include bank fraud, law enforcement agencies and criminal investigations. The most important skills for a criminal investigative agent are physical evidence, law enforcement agencies, and surveillance operations.

Postal inspector vs criminal investigative agent overview

Postal InspectorCriminal Investigative Agent
Yearly salary$68,901$56,775
Hourly rate$33.13$27.30
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs20,08825,834
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Postal inspector vs criminal investigative agent salary

Postal inspectors and criminal investigative agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Postal InspectorCriminal Investigative Agent
Average salary$68,901$56,775
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $119,000Between $38,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between postal inspector and criminal investigative agent education

There are a few differences between a postal inspector and a criminal investigative agent in terms of educational background:

Postal InspectorCriminal Investigative Agent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Postal inspector vs criminal investigative agent demographics

Here are the differences between postal inspectors' and criminal investigative agents' demographics:

Postal InspectorCriminal Investigative Agent
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 76.1% Female, 23.9%Male, 79.0% Female, 21.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between postal inspector and criminal investigative agent duties and responsibilities

Postal inspector example responsibilities.

  • Manage customs service's facility and team in the immediate AO to active military and DoD civilians.
  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Experience obtaining grand jury subpoenas and have obtained and serve federal search, arrest and asset forfeiture warrants.
  • Perform background investigations of employees applying for security positions within the USPS.
  • Review and enforce the application of state laws and regulations pertaining to the CDFA.
  • Serve subpoenas to witnesses, suspects, financial institutions, internet service providers, etc.
  • Show more

Criminal investigative agent example responsibilities.

  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Deliver subpoenas and other legal requirements.
  • Provide direction and guidance on several high-profile homicide investigations, as well as numerous additional criminal and narcotics investigations.
  • Collect and disseminate intelligence and threat information concerning foreign intelligence and international terrorism to support commands using HUMINT sources.

Postal inspector vs criminal investigative agent skills

Common postal inspector skills
  • Bank Fraud, 15%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 12%
  • Criminal Investigations, 9%
  • Postal Service, 9%
  • Subpoenas, 8%
  • Inspection Services, 7%
Common criminal investigative agent skills
  • Physical Evidence, 14%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 9%
  • Surveillance Operations, 8%
  • Subpoenas, 7%
  • Investigative Reports, 6%
  • Documentary Evidence, 5%

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