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The differences between protective officers 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 $40,529 average annual salary of a protective officer.
The top three skills for a protective officer include customer service, emergency situations and patrol. The most important skills for a criminal investigator are investigative reports, resourcefulness, and firearms.
| Protective Officer | Criminal Investigator | |
| Yearly salary | $40,529 | $54,520 |
| Hourly rate | $19.49 | $26.21 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 103,885 | 5,131 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A protective officer is in charge of preventing theft and damages in stores and other establishments. Among their responsibilities include monitoring alarm systems and surveillance cameras, patrolling areas, keeping an eye on suspicious activities and behavior, developing strategies to enforce security protocols, and responding to distress. There are also instances where they must conduct inspections and produce reports. Furthermore, as a protective officer, it is essential to coordinate with law enforcement should the situation require.
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.
Protective officers and criminal investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Officer | Criminal Investigator | |
| Average salary | $40,529 | $54,520 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $58,000 | Between $34,000 And $85,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | National Security | National Railroad Passenger Corporation |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a protective officer and a criminal investigator in terms of educational background:
| Protective Officer | Criminal Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between protective officers' and criminal investigators' demographics:
| Protective Officer | Criminal Investigator | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | 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 | 6% | 9% |