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Senior investigator vs correction officer

The differences between senior investigators and correction officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior investigator has an average salary of $61,240, which is higher than the $39,369 average annual salary of a correction officer.

The top three skills for a senior investigator include senior level management, local law enforcement and claims handling. The most important skills for a correction officer are public safety, correctional facility, and emergency situations.

Senior investigator vs correction officer overview

Senior InvestigatorCorrection Officer
Yearly salary$61,240$39,369
Hourly rate$29.44$18.93
Growth rate3%-10%
Number of jobs4,525103,383
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%High School Diploma, 30%
Average age4440
Years of experience2-

What does a senior investigator do?

As a senior investigator, you will be responsible for managing investigations for crimes, including corruption, organized crime, and fraud. You will work closely with the district attorney and law enforcement to investigate and solve these crimes. This role will require you to perform other additional duties, including collecting DNA samples from the crime scene, suspects and victims, organizing live training on risk, compliance, and ethics, and testifying in criminal and civil courts, civil service hearings, and ethics commission.

What does a correction officer do?

A correction officer is responsible for monitoring the daily activities of individuals serving time in prison, enforcing the standard rules and regulatory procedures to maintain safety and security within the premises. Correction officers' duties include searching for restricted items, inspecting the facilities' condition, observing unusual and suspicious behaviors, generating incident reports, and providing assistance during counseling and trial schedules. Correction officers must be highly knowledgeable of legal regulations. They must also cooperate with court procedures for any investigations within their place of work.

Senior investigator vs correction officer salary

Senior investigators and correction officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior InvestigatorCorrection Officer
Average salary$61,240$39,369
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $105,000Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CityFrederick, MDUrban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying stateMarylandHawaii
Best paying companyDLA PiperCareerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between senior investigator and correction officer education

There are a few differences between a senior investigator and a correction officer in terms of educational background:

Senior InvestigatorCorrection Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%High School Diploma, 30%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Senior investigator vs correction officer demographics

Here are the differences between senior investigators' and correction officers' demographics:

Senior InvestigatorCorrection Officer
Average age4440
Gender ratioMale, 65.4% Female, 34.6%Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 16.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.0% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage9%6%

Differences between senior investigator and correction officer duties and responsibilities

Senior investigator example responsibilities.

  • Investigate allegations of suspect FWA / prioritize and manage case load / maintain comprehensive case files.
  • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
  • Create budget friendly evidence collection boxes for investigations and patrol officers.
  • Send specimens to laboratory to obtain DNA.
  • Participate on committees and teams supporting GMP compliance programs.
  • Collect possible DNA samples from the scene, victims, and suspects.
  • Show more

Correction officer example responsibilities.

  • Manage behavior modification and offender restoration rehabilitation.
  • Implement defensive tactics and physical restraints to maintain the safety and security of the general public.
  • Conduct NCIC background reports on all new inmates within the facility.
  • Collect felony DNA enter finger prints into live scan for NCIC.
  • finger prints and background information and placement in to the pod )
  • Feed, book-in inmates, control movement and supervise medical treatment.
  • Show more

Senior investigator vs correction officer skills

Common senior investigator skills
  • Senior Level Management, 13%
  • Local Law Enforcement, 9%
  • Claims Handling, 8%
  • Court Proceedings, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 4%
  • Management System, 3%
Common correction officer skills
  • Public Safety, 27%
  • Correctional Facility, 11%
  • Emergency Situations, 9%
  • Security Checks, 5%
  • Incident Reports, 5%
  • CPR, 5%

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