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The differences between researchers and investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a researcher, becoming an investigator takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an investigator has an average salary of $71,406, which is higher than the $67,145 average annual salary of a researcher.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for an investigator are law enforcement agencies, management system, and customer service.
| Researcher | Investigator | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $71,406 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $34.33 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 5,085 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
Criminal investigators play an essential role in criminal justice and law enforcement. Their job entails solving open cases that may take them weeks or even months to accomplish. Collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and arresting suspects are among their many tasks. They work at every level of criminal justice and law enforcement. For criminal investigators to succeed in their profession, they should have sound judgment, strong communication skills, ethical standards, physical fitness, and empathy. They also benefit from strong job prospects, in addition to an exciting and rewarding job.
Researchers and investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Investigator | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $71,406 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $42,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a researcher and an investigator in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between researchers' and investigators' demographics:
| Researcher | Investigator | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 56.6% Female, 43.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 4.7% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |